A community group has an alternative plan for Butler School Board members who are considering school consolidation options, including a recommendation to close six or seven elementary schools.

The group’s plan would close three elementary schools and the junior high school, while keeping the kindergarten-through-sixth grade community school model intact.

The 42-page report, written by the group Butler Residents for Quality Schools, is in response to recommendations made by the district-hired firm of Thomas & Williamson of Pittsburgh to close up to seven elementary schools and to reconfigure grades.

The school board hired Thomas & Williamson to recommend how to make more efficient use of the district’s schools, which have an average occupancy rate of 55 percent.

There are 11 elementary schools among the 14 total buildings in the district.

“All of us understand the board and the administration have a really, really tough task in front of them,” said Kris Paserba, spokesman for Butler Residents for Quality Schools. “And I think at the end of the day, they’re going to do what’s in the best interests of our children and our families and our community.”

The group’s suggested alternative, highlighted in the report titled “Our Schools Our Children,” is to close the junior high and three elementary schools based on geographic region.

That would mean closing an elementary school on the west side of the district, either Clearfield, Oakland or Summit; closing a city school, either Center Avenue, Broad Street or Emily Brittain; and closing an elementary school on the east side of the district, either Connoquenessing, Meridian or Northwest.

Thomas and Williamson’s recommended plans would reconfigure grades into a K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12 model, sending intermediate elementary-aged students to the junior high downtown, sending junior high students to the intermediate high school and sophomores through seniors to the senior high school. Those changes could save the district $5 million to $6 million per year.

It also calls for keeping Center Township, Connoquenessing, McQuistion and Northwest elementary schools open.

Paserba estimated the group’s alternative plan could save the district $4 million out of the $100 million annual budget.

“We don’t just want it to be financial,” Paserba said. “We want it to be based on safety and education and the well-being of our children. With that, our plan preserves that K through 6 structure, and it preserves the neighborhood schools concept.”

Not only that, but he said there would also be benefits for students and the community.

Having a wider grade span of kindergarten through sixth grade students is important for young students especially, Paserba said, because of the connection to teachers, administrators and other students. There also would be benefits in shorter bus commute times for students along with other educational factors.

The plan was mailed to school board members, the school district administration and community leaders, including township supervisors, Butler City Council members and Mayor Tom Donaldson.

“We’re happy to take a look at their proposal,” said Dale Lumley, superintendent. “This group obviously is putting a lot of time and effort into their proposal, and that’s what the whole series of meetings is about.”

Another consolidation meeting will be at 6 p.m. today at the intermediate high school auditorium. Lumley said the group’s proposal will be discussed, the Thomas & Williamson recommended plans will be reintroduced and school board members will ask questions.

The public will be able to submit questions via notecards, which may be addressed at the end of the meeting or at the next meeting Nov. 24.

The Butler Residents for Quality Schools report can be viewed on the group’s website, www.butlerk6.com.

The school board would have to vote in December or January to make any changes go into effect by the next school year.