Leaders in the Sachem Central School District took one final vote Wednesday night to approve a plan to close three schools.

As News 12 has reported, six schools were on the chopping block in one of Long Island's largest school districts due to declining enrollment.

On Wednesday, parents packed the Samoset Middle School auditorium to demand that the Sachem Board of Education vote against the plan to close three of the district's schools.

Despite outcry from the community, the board voted 6-3 to shutter Tecumseh and Gatelot elementary schools, as well as Sequoya Middle School.

Officials say they came to the decision after two and a half years of meetings and analysis. Superintendent James Nolan says unfunded mandates, disappointing state aid numbers and declining enrollment are among the reasons for the closures.

District officials would not discuss layoffs, only saying they will be part of the redistricting plan to be announced in the near future.