BUTLER TWP — This fall five of the Butler School District’s elementary schools — Broad Street, Center Avenue, Clearfield, Meridian and Oakland — could be closed with the remaining six elementary schools reconfigured from kindergarten through fourth grade.

That is because the school board Monday night preliminarily voted 6 to 3 on a consolidation plan that could save the district $3.5 million a year.

The plan would send fifth and sixth grade elementary students to the current junior high school.

Seventh through 9th grade students would attend the intermediate high school, and 10th through 12th grades would attend the high school.

The plan also keeps open one elementary school, Emily Brittain, in the city.

Voting for the plan were Carmen Bianoc, Karen Callihan, Jim Kaffalas, David Korn, Don Pringle and Al Vavaro.

Board members John Conrad, Neil Convery and Bill Halle voted against it.

The board members who voted for the consolidation plan said it was the right choice to make.

“I know that I have to do what’s right for the students and the taxpayers,” said Don Pringle.

“I have not seen the K-6 model bring better grades or better test scores. We have been behind, and we continue to further fall behind. This is the perfect opportunity for us. We have operated and operated and cut and cut to the point that we are at this day.”

Now that the initial vote for the consolidation plan has been taken, a hearing will be set for next month that will give community members another opportunity to talk the board.

Meetings in individual schools also will be held before a final vote is taken in May, said Dale Lumley, superintendent.