The Corvallis School Board voted 6-1 to close Letitia Carson Elementary and Cheldelin Middle Schools, effective next school year.

The decision also includes moving sixth grade to elementary schools, changing Mountain View Elementary to a K-8 school and redrawing boundaries for schools near Letitia Carson.

"It does not feel good to make these kinds of decisions at all,” said Board Chair Luhui Whitebear. “And as much as the audience is scoffing the board right now, I want to let people know that we care about the students of this district."

The decision came in the early hours of Friday morning after a marathon meeting that started at 6 p.m. Thursday, and included three hours of public comment and a similar amount of debate between board members.

The original plan received a 3-3 vote wit

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