AUBURN – The School Committee on Wednesday scrapped plans to consolidate six elementary schools into four by closing East Auburn and Walton schools by 2012.

No official vote was taken, but there was no consensus among the committee to proceed with earlier recommendations to close the two elementary schools. However, members agreed to continue with plans to renovate Edward Little High School.

The biggest reason for the change of thinking is money, or the lack of it.

Closing East Auburn and Walton schools would mean moving students to Washburn, Sherwood Heights, Fairview and Park Avenue schools. Washburn and Park Avenue would have to be expanded to hold more students, which would call for millions of dollars in renovations. That money is not available.

And many parents, especially those with children at East Auburn school, don’t want the neighborhood schools to close.

The master plan subcommittee came up with the proposal to consolidate to four schools last March. But the decision depended on School Committee approval, Committee Chairman David Das said Wednesday. “Plans do change over time. Clearly, we lacked the consensus.”

Committee member Bonnie Hayes said the master plan is simply a road map. Before elementary schools are closed or renovated, the committee must first look at the financial condition of the city, Hayes said. “Our goal now is to renovate Edward Little. That’s the major goal.”

On other master plan issues, the committee agreed that the Auburn Land Lab should move to East Auburn and that Auburn Middle School should include grades six to eight, instead of the current seven and eight. That would mean middle-school renovations, but there’s no money for that, Das said.

The committee is expected to vote on the master plan Dec. 17 or in early January.