Three school boards Monday night approved closing the Clarence C. Brown Education Center for financial reasons and low enrollment.

The Moniteau, Karns City and Seneca Valley boards all voted to close the center by June 30 and to sell the school building on Pittsburgh Pike Road in Butler.

The alternative and emotional needs school is run by the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV out of Grove City, but the building is owned by the Karns City, Mars, Moniteau, Seneca Valley and South Butler school districts.

The recommendation to close the school came from the MIU, citing low enrollment as part of the school’s financial concerns.

Moniteau board member Diane Hunter, who represents Moniteau on the Clarence Brown joint operating committee, said, “It’s unfortunate that it’s closing. However, the numbers are down. It’s not feasible to keep it open.

“It has done a wonderful job preparing kids,” she said. “I’m sorry it’s closing.”

“The staff has been wonderful and gone above and beyond their job descriptions,” Hunter said.

“I could not say enough about the staff and past staff,” Hunter said. “It’s an amazing group of people there.”

Dean Hoffman, director of special education for the district and a former principal at Clarence Brown, said the big question is where students will go instead of Clarence Brown.

Moniteau has two students at the school.

“There aren’t many local programs for life skills for students that need extra services beyond what the district already offers at Moniteau High School and Dassa McKinney Elementary School,” Hoffman said.

Eric Ritzert, Karns City superintendent, said “(The board members) greatly appreciate the service ... and are disappointed that it’s fiscally not an option. It makes sense to close.”

Karns City has three students at Clarence Brown, according to Ritzert.

Jerry Miller, director of special education at Seneca Valley, said the district has two students at the school, and the administration is seeking alternative placement options for those students.

“There are other options available that we can pursue. I foresee no issues with the closure,” Miller said.

Seneca board member James Welsh, who is on the joint operating committee, said, “We are looking to cover every student that is there. The IU has made a commitment to try and find placement for them,” he said.

Mars already voted in favor of the sale while the South Butler School Board will take up the issue at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the library of Knoch Middle School, 754 Dinnerbell Road.

A public hearing about the closing will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 2, which is a change in time from the previously scheduled 7 p.m. meeting, said Ritzert. This meeting will be at the school at 1104 Pittsburgh Pike Road.

Clarence Brown had 42 students during the 2014-2015 year, but after the Butler School District opened its own alternative and emotional needs school last summer, enrollment at Clarence Brown dropped to 15 students.

That drop caused the MIU to recommend closing the school.

Eagle staff writers Laurie Lindsay, Joe Genco and Amanda Spadaro contributed to this report.