The last day of classes in the Coatesville Area School District also marked the final day for Gordon Elementary.

The school is closing as part of a cost-saving plan by the district, but the building will reopen in September as the Gordon Education Center, dedicated to serving special education students in grades six through 10.

My DLN colleague Danielle Lynch filled in and covered Monday night's CASD board meeting where members passed the preliminary version of the 2008-2009 budget (by a vote of 7-2), which calls for a 3.11 percent tax increase, and the district's plans to eliminate Gordon Elementary School (by a vote of 8-1).

From Tuesday's story:

School Board President Donna Urban said that the district has the second lowest proposed tax increase in the county. Urban noted the elementary school renovation was not planned because the school district is in financial trouble. She said the district is slowly raising taxes now to avoid a large tax increase later.

“I’m really having a hard time with the tax increase,” said school board member Robert Knecht, who voted against the preliminary budget.

Diana Brownfield also voted against the preliminary budget and was the only board member to vote against plans to renovate the elementary school into an education center.

“In my eyes, Gordon is the little school that could,” said Brownfield. “It’s the heart of the district.”

CASD's proposed budget is balanced at $135.8 million and includes a plan to disperse Gordon's students among CASD's other six elementary schools. The building would then house the district's special education center.

CASD officials have estimated that move would save the district more than $2 million.