At a Fremont Public Schools board of education meeting on Monday night, the board voted unanimously to close Platteville Elementary.

The school is located just south of Fremont.

Platteville was absorbed by Fremont Public Schools in 2006 because of a new law passed by the Nebraska legislature.

The projected savings by closing down the school is between $400,000 and $600,000 annually. Superintendent Dr. Steve Sexton says that figure is approximately what it costs to operate the school annually.

The closing process will begin at the end of the school year, which ends in a few days.

There are 47 total students who attend Platteville, Sexton says only half of those students live near the school.

"I wish circumstances were different, but they weren't." Sexton told Channel 6 News that while he understands parents close emotional, identification and ownership for the school and its programs, the decision was made based on two reasons.

He says according to census data, there is a decline in school age children in the area. Next year, the attendance at Platteville would drop from 47 students to in between 35 and 39 students.

While the teacher student ratio is ideal, economics played a part in the decision when it comes to the cost of running the school.

Sexton says the decision on what to do with the building will be measured and there is no rush to figure it out, although an auction could be an option.

One parental concern involves stimulus money that was spent by the district two years ago. Sexton says that money was used to improve technology at all schools and for one time expenditures.

He says since 2006, the district has invested money in improving Platteville, including keeping the school up to date with technology.

Students who's parents choose to keep in the Fremont Public School district will be sent to other schools.