BUTLER TWP — Butler School Board members Wednesday night will take a final vote on a district consolidation plan, potentially closing five elementary schools, reconfiguring grades at all schools and opening an alternative school.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. at the Butler High School auditorium.

More than a dozen special meetings have been held this school year to consider consolidation plans, to take public comment and to put a price tag on potential savings.

Jon Thomas of Thomas and Williamson Program Management in October unveiled several consolidation plans to board members.

He initially estimated a $3.5 million savings from the district’s $100 million budget. However, Debbie Brandstetter, business manager, said last month that the district savings from consolidation would be closer to $1.5 million.

Broad Street, Center Avenue, Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland elementary schools would close if the board approves the plan. The remaining elementary schools would become kindergarten through fourth grade buildings.

Center Avenue would reopen as an alternative school for special needs students and for those with discipline problems.

Fifth and sixth graders would attend a newly formed middle school at the junior high building downtown, the intermediate high school would house seventh through ninth grade students, and the high school would house 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

The district currently has a kindergarten through sixth grade; seventh and eighth grade; ninth and 10th grade; and 11th and 12th grade configuration.

Despite some parents and residents who have been talking about consolidation concerns at meetings, the majority of school board members have been publicly supportive of the plan.

“I think this will be wonderful for the school district. I wish my kids were in school to be able to go through this,” said board member Carmen Bianco at a special meeting in April.

Don Pringle, former board president, said last month he was more confident in the consolidation plan than ever.

A procedural vote in February was split 6-3 to consolidate, with Bianco, Pringle, Karen Callihan, Jim Keffalas, David Korn and Al Vavro voting for the plan.

John Conrad, Neil Convery and Bill Halle cast no votes.

Conrad said last month that with many parents concerned, it would be wise to take more time.

“I think our customers want to go slower in respect to consolidation,” he said at a meeting last month. “Our customers are the parents … We need to give the customers what they want. They have a choice” on where to send their children to school.