BUTLER TWP — Two Butler School Board members and four candidates who expect to be elected to the board in November are urging current board members and school administrators to stop the school consolidation process.

A letter dated May 24 details how the majority of the future school board, six of nine members, will be against the current consolidation plan once the winners from the Nov. 3 election take office in December.

Part of the two-page letter reads: “The current board and administration had from last September until this May to convince the people to support Plan 4B and failed to do so. It is our firm belief that the people’s dissatisfaction with Plan 4B will only grow as it is hastily implemented over the next few months. In December, the people will expect us to follow through with what they elected us to do.”

The letter sent to the board is signed by current board members John Conrad and Bill Halle, and expected incoming board members Leland Clark, Jennifer Cummings, Suzie Hammonds-Bradrick and Nina Teff.

The consolidation plan was approved in a 7-2 vote last month. It closes Broad Street, Center Avenue, Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland elementary schools next week, and reconfigures grades at remaining schools this fall.

Halle said, “The precedent legally for lame duck boards is not to make far reaching decisions that would impact new boards.

“So since the majority of the board in December would be against this plan ... We’re asking to put the plan on hold.

“In other words, stop the consolidation and then let the new board take up a new consolidation plan.”

The letter also said, “In consideration of this mandate, it is our intention, upon taking office, to reverse elements of Plan 4B, should it be fully implemented.

“Specifically, we intend to examine whether it was appropriate, cost-saving or educationally beneficial to close so many of our neighborhood elementary schools. For the same reasons, we will examine the large, centralized middle elementary school.

“The Pennsylvania Board of Education has confirmed that we will have the full statutory authority to reverse, in whole or part, Plan 4B. A ‘super majority’ of the new board will be in favor of utilizing this authority.

“Understand that all incoming board members fully intend to:

n “Focus on decreasing costs through every means possible, including closures and reconfigurations that are clearly beneficial educationally, that are cost-saving and that are in consideration of the preference of the electorate.

n “Pursue new, modern and innovative ideas for improving education, such as new technology, increasing teacher collaboration, implementing STEAM centers and making more effective use of shared resources.

“However, we believe those objectives should be pursued in a thoughtful, analytical and stepwise manner, with clear and specific objectives and measurements, by a board who will be in place for several years.

“If we do not receive a response by Monday, June 1, we will assume that you will not reconsider and we will take whatever action we deem appropriate.”

Halle and Conrad, board members who voted against the plan, are for consolidation but against the plan that was approved. Incoming board members also want to outline an alternative plan, as detailed by the letter.

The school board is scheduled to discuss the letter at its meeting Monday.

Dale Lumley, superintendent, said, “I’m supportive of the plan that the board recommended. We’ve been working hard to implement that plan.

“I do respect that when a new board comes in, they can make changes. I will work with them to do that.”

Board member Don Pringle was not re-elected in the primary, and members Carmen Bianco, Karen Callihan and Jim Keffalas did not seek re-election.