Merrill - The Merrill School board stands by the decision to close Pine River Elementary school.

Previously, the board had decided to convert the elementary school to an early childhood center.

A number of parents were upset by the budget cutting decision.

The school board reviewed the decision last night.
A Wausau newspaper reports the board voted seven to two to stand by the decision.

Pine River houses just over 10 percent of the Merrill School District's 11-hundred elementary schoolers.

Superintendent Bruce Anderson has said Pine River DOES have an excellent academic record.

But that's partly because the school is too small to include a special education program, so special needs students have to attend other Merrill schools.