Plans to shutter East Elementary School have now been shelved in Long Beach.

It comes after the school board voted Tuesday night to approve a proposed budget for 2024-2025 without that key closure.

According to superintendent Dr. Jennifer Gallagher, "When the initial Governor’s budget proposal was released, and it was forecast that Long Beach might lose over 4 million dollars in state aid, the district was forced to examine many possible budget reductions. With later assurances from state legislators that the original cuts were unlikely for this year, and with some projected revenue estimates for the district (from interest) that were better than anticipated, the Board of Education decided that no major cuts to programs or school closures would have to happen this year. Instead, we are forming a committee to study whether consolidation of our elementary schools should be a long-term goal."

The proposed budget does include cutting about eight teaching positions and a 1.5% tax levy increase.

The next step in the process is a budget hearing on May 14 and the budget vote and board elections on May 21.