To hear the Butler School Board talk, you’d think Christmas is coming.

Several board members say they’re more confident than ever about approving a district consolidation plan next month, especially when seeing the educational improvements that can be made with the potential $3.5 million in savings.

They should be reminded the original intention of closing five elementary schools was to stop an endless string of property tax increases — 14 increases in the past 16 academic years — not to free up money for more run-away spending.

When board members meet again May 6, they’ll vote on a plan to close Broad Street, Center Avenue, Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland elementary schools. The remaining six elementary schools would become kindergarten through fourth grade buildings, and fifth- and sixth-graders would attend a middle school together at the junior high building downtown.

On Wednesday, they heard four hours of discussion as more than a dozen administrators spoke about transition plans and budget changes. Collectively, the officials envision more than $2 million in technology improvements over the next two years. The STEM program would get new emphasis at a newly formed fifth- and sixth-grade middle school. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; similar, perhaps, to what our parents once called the Three Rs, but apparently much more sophisticated.

The consolidation would furlough nine teachers, eight part-time custodial staff, four crossing guards, three health technicians and several food service staff. Other positions would be eliminated through attrition.

But at the same time, the district would add two librarians, two language teachers, a gym teacher and several other staff members.

It’s obvious there will be costs associated with the consolidation; buildings need to be renovated and repurposed for new roles and functions. And $2 million over two years for technological improvements might not be an unreasonable investment.

Regardless, it’s incumbent now more than ever for the board and administration to be clear about their plans, the budget and their use of the public’s tax dollars. They need to remember how they marketed consolidation as a way to make school operations more efficient and more economical — to benefit the taxpayer as well as the district.

But if the annual property tax increases don’t stop, the board can’t expect the public ever to come to their side on any consolidation plan.

— T.A.H.