SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The Sheboygan Area School Board voted 6 to 3 Tuesday to close Washington Elementary School at the end of the school year. With about 150 people looking on in the Commons at Sheboygan North, the board discussed, but rejected, a couple of alternate proposals which would have changed some attendance areas and required additional building. Under the original plan, which was approved at the conclusion of the one-hour meeting, most of the 350 students from Washington will go to Grant and Jefferson next year, and most of the staff at Washington will be able to be absorbed in other facilities next year. During earlier input sessions there had been substantial support for a referendum on building a new school at a cost of at least 12-million dollars. Many at Tuesday's meeting expressed displeasure with the board decision. Superintendent Joe Sheehan said saving money was not the reason for closing the school, but he said it would save the district $786,000 per year.