BETHEL — The SAD 44 board is expected to decide Monday whether or not to close the Andover and Woodstock elementary schools.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Telstar High School library.

About 75 people turned out at a board meeting Monday, with most advocating to keep the Woodstock school open. There was considerable discussion about the possibility of modifying the school to save about $120,000. Modifications could include eliminating administration and creating multi-grade classrooms. There are 75 pupils in grades kindergarten to five.

The Andover school, with a pupil population of about 30 in grades kindergarten to five, has three multi-grade classrooms.

The school-closing options are in response to a $1.2 million budget gap for 2011-12 due to lower state and federal aid and higher fixed costs.

A two-thirds vote of the board is required to close a school.

Woodstock and Andover voters can decide to pay the costs of keeping their schools open for one year, and the district would review the situation again.

eadams@sunjournal.com