'AINA HAINA — A community panel tonight voted 8-0 to recommend that the state Department of Education close Wailupe Valley School at the end of the school year and transfer its 78 students to nearby 'Aina Haina Elementary.

It was the first recommendation of its kind in an ongoing process within the public school system to study the possibility of closing underpopulated schools across the state.

The task force, made up of parents, school administrators and community members, will forward its recommendation to complex area superintendent Ronn Nozoe who will submit the panel's decision to state Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto. She will then send it to the state Board of Education for a final decision on whether to close the school.

If Wailupe were to be consolidated, it would be the first time since 1987, when students from 'Anuenue Elementary were shifted to nearby Palolo Elementary.

Closing Wailupe Valley and shifting its students to 'Aina Haina could result in significant cost savings to the state, according to a report released in March by the task force.

According to the report released March 6, 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.

Ross Watanabe, an alumnus of Wailupe Valley and whose 7-year-old daughter attends the school, was one of about 25 people at tonight's meeting at 'Aina Haina Elementary.

"This is very emotional for me," Watanabe said. "With the economy being the way it is, this was already decided. If we could have looked at other options before this, we may not be at this point."

Cary Miyashiro, chairman of the task force, said, "When we looked at all the data, I really could not see any defendable reason to keep the school open. ... We had to decide what was in the best interests of the child. We owe it to the students."

Wailupe has a class-size range of eight to 14 students, while 'Aina Haina's ranges from 17 to 22.

However, according to the task force report, there is no statistical advantage to Wailupe Valley's small class sizes.

Overall student achievement was found to be higher at 'Aina Haina, according to an examination of the school's Hawaii State Assessment results. Wailupe Valley students transferring to 'Aina Haina would benefit from the 'Aina Haina emphasis on high student achievement, the report said.

For instance, in 2007, 88 percent of 'Aina Haina students were proficient in reading compared with 77 percent at Wailupe Valley. In mathematics, 77 percent of students were found to be proficient compared with 54 percent at Wailupe Valley.