The Warren County School District's board of directors on Monday chose to keep four high schools open rather than consolidating to half that number.

In a 6-3 vote, the board approved a motion to maintain four high schools based on the recommendation of a steering committee comprised of teachers, administrators and parents.

The motion, offered by board member Tom Knapp, further directed the administration "to recommend at the next board meeting a schedule for deciding the priority, extent and funding of construction projects, including a schedule for deciding a resolution of the Warren elementary schools configuration."

Newly-elected Board President Arthur Stewart said he looked at the minimal cost difference between the option of two high schools and the current four when making his decision.

"The results of the most recent DeJong study showed that consolidating did not yield important tax savings," said Stewart.

"We want to move in a direction that's politically tenable," he added.

Knapp said, "You would come away a lot cheaper than what we would do with two high schools."

Kim Angove, who had been nominated for another term as board president in the reorganizational portion of the meeting, opposed the motion, looking instead at holding a referendum and collecting more public input.

"The mass of people do need to see it," explained Angove.

New board member Paul Yourchisin, who also opposed the motion, said, "You want to leave no stone unturned before that decision is made."

Angove continued by expressing her view on the educational perspective of consolidation, which should be the primary goal of a board member.

"After seeing the (DeJong) report, two (high schools) offers more educationally," she said.

Board member Donna Zariczny, who was elected board vice president, also opposed the motion.

In addition to Stewart and Knapp, voting to keep four high schools open were board members Jeff Lockett, John Grant, John Werner and MaryAnne Paris.

Under the four high school option, according to the Master Facilities Plan presented in October 2008, Eisenhower Middle/High School would be replaced with a new school on or near the same site, estimated to cost over $24 million. Russell Elementary, Warren Area Elementary Center, Youngsville Elementary/Middle School and Youngsville High School would require no action.

Allegheny Valley and Sheffield elementary schools would be combined into the Sheffield K-12 School site, requiring the new construction of an elementary school costing close to $7 million. South Street Early Learning Center would close, and students would attend a renovated Pleasant Elementary School, which would cost about $10 million. Warren Area High School would receive a moderate renovation estimated at $14 million, while Beaty-Warren Middle School and Sugar Grove Elementary School would both receive major renovations estimated at just over $27 million.

According to DeJong, the cost to implement that option would be about $85.6 million.

The first option for two high schools would have utilized Warren Area High School and Youngsville High School as the two district high schools. According to the data, Warren would hold 1,000 students and require a moderate renovation or addition, totaling an estimated $21.2 million. Youngsville, which would hold 700 students, would also require an addition or renovation, at an estimated cost of $14.8 million. The total to implement that option would have cost an estimated $82 million.

The second option for two high schools would have utilized Warren and a new high school. According to DeJong, the construction of a new school, housing 700 students, would cost about $35 million. The cost of Warren would stay the same as in the first option. The total to implement that option would have cost approximately $102.9 million.

Under both of the two high school options, renovations at other schools in the district were included.

The decision to vote on high school consolidation was not on Monday's meeting agenda.