DANVILLE -- Most of those packing Tuesday night's Danville school board meeting made their opinion clear to directors: They want to keep Danville Elementary School open.

Board members fought among themselves, and residents argued with the board.

"I'm so sick of fighting," board member Megan Raup said after being asked by a resident to have the issue of whether to close Danville Elementary and renovate two other schools become a referendum.

"I'd rather you guys pick."

A retired Danville Elementary teacher asked the board why it would sell the best elementary school building in the district and renovate two older ones -- Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementaries.

"Make it work," said Joan Kessler, wearing a "Save DES" button. "Don't ask us to give up the neighborhood school."

Resident George Wagner asked the board not to move forward in light of its 5-3 vote at its most recent meeting, in which it approved closing Danville Elementary and renovating Riverside and Mahoning-Cooper elementaries, where Danville Elementary students would be sent.

"I don't care if it's one year, three or four years, wait until the consensus feels it has a good solution," he said.

Board solicitor Timothy Bowers said if the project cost exceeds a certain amount, it must go to referendum -- but this project doesn't exceed that amount.

Montour County Treasurer Kim Schooley said an unscientific poll he conducted of 100 people showed none agreed with the board's decision.

In discussing the economic impact on the community, he asked how young couples, farmers, senior citizens and single parents would be able to pay for the tax increase from the project, which is estimated to cost $6 million more than a plan to build a $24 million consolidated elementary and close the three schools.

Kim Schooley called the board's decision "baseless, rash, irresponsible and self-serving."

Saying the latest decision would add $375,000 to $495,000 annually from money that would have been saved under the previous plan, he said this would be an increase of $12.5 million to $15.9 million the next 20 years.

Dianne Stonier proposed a junior high for seventh- and eighth-graders be built close to the high school instead of a consolidated elementary school.

"In getting rid of neighborhood schools, you lose community," she said. "Consolidating elementaries is a travesty."