In a unanimous decision, the state Board of Education today decided to close Wailupe Valley School at the end of the school year and transfer its 75 students to nearby Aina Haina Elementary School.

The decision came after more than four months of debate and public testimony in the East Oahu community. Wailupe now becomes the first school to be consolidated in the state since 1987, when students from Anuenue Elementary were shifted to nearby Palolo Elementary.

The board decision follows an 8-0 vote last week Thursday of a task force made up of parents, school administrators and community members. The task force recommended to the state Department of Education that the small elementary school be consolidated with Aina Haina, just about a mile away.

Closing Wailupe Valley could result in significant cost savings to the state, according to a report released March 6 by the task force

According to the report, the state spends more than twice as much per pupil at Wailupe Valley ($12,079) than at Aina Haina ($5,140).

Taking into account total operating costs for the school, the state would save about $804,000 a year if Wailupe were to close and its staff and students moved. Wailupe also has a repair and maintenance backlog of some $9.7 million.

The task force had been meeting since Dec. 23 to decide whether to recommend merging Wailupe Valley with Aina Haina.

Citing budget cuts of at least $40 million a year for the next two years, education officials in December embarked on the long and controversial process of studying consolidation of schools as a cost-saving measure.

Other areas such as Kaaawa, Molokai and Maui are also involved in a process to close or consolidate schools in their communities.