WELD – Residents here have a big decision to make next month.

Do they vote to close their elementary school, which would send their younger children to Wilton schools and sacrifice what they say is a vital part of their community? Or do they vote to keep it open, keep their children in smaller class sizes and pay the extra costs?

More residents spoke out against the decision during a public hearing Tuesday than those who spoke in favor it. Most just listened to what was said.

The vote is by secret ballot from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the town office.

SAD 9 directors already voted to close the school, but the residents here have the final say.

Dwindling enrollment numbers, projected to be 13 students in late August in grades three through six and nine students projected in 2012-13, in addition to rising costs of education played a major role in the board’s decision. Any students who move into town for the coming school year in grades kindergarten through two will be sent about 14 miles down the road to the Cushing School in Wilton, SAD 9 Superintendent Mike Cormier said.

No teachers have shown interest in going to Weld to teach in the district, he said, and as of Monday, no applications had been submitted for the position that was advertised online, in case residents vote to keep it open.

The state calculated it would cost $229,363.74 to operate the school with the taxpayers in Weld picking up that cost in addition to their share of SAD 9 costs. But after an isolated small school adjustment of $126,272.23 is factored in, it would cost Weld taxpayers about $103,092, Cormier said.

Schoolchildren here would ride the bus an extra 20 minutes for a total of about 45 minutes each way, Cormier said, which puts them in line with other elementary students in other towns in the district.

Weld elementary students already travel on Wednesdays to Wilton schools for library, gym and use of computer lab.

If voters approve closing the school, then Weld residents would have to have a special town meeting to decide if they want to accept the school from the district, which was built in 1962 by the town to house 75 students.

There is no record of a deed that turned the school over to SAD 9, Cormier said, so he believes the town still owns it. He also said the school doesn’t come without issues including encapsulated asbestos but there has been money invested in improvements.

SAD 9 Director Neil Stinneford of Weld said his vote to close the school was not based entirely on the financial situation.

He said he has a real concern about the kinds of programs and educational environment that remaining students would have at the small school.

Stinneford said he believed the kids would receive a better education if they went to Wilton schools.

Resident Susan Stowell said she believed closing the school would affect the value of Weld in the long run with people choosing not to move to town to raise a family.

Resident Judy Rogers said the actual ride on the school bus is longer than 45 minutes, especially when the weather and roads are bad.

“We’re talking long, long bus rides,” Rogers said.

Selectman Laurie Pratt said at one time the town had 13 schools.

“That’s a lot of schools,” she said. “It’s a sad day,” but she added that she understood why the school board made the decision they did with the numbers down and costs rising.

“I’m really torn as a parent,” Pratt said.

Wilton schools Principal Darlene Paine said she could certainly not promise the results Weld students receive with the smaller class sizes but she could promise that the children would be loved and taught well.

Residents plan to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the town hall to discuss the matter among themselves.