The board’s decision to save Elsie Allen High School Friday means they now must come up with $2 million more in savings because their closure plan won’t save enough money to pull the district out of financial jeopardy.

It was a contentious night at school board meetings in the Bay Area, as board members in Santa Rosa and Vallejo voted to close several schools, while other decisions were tabled.

A series of consequences from COVID-19 and the continuing decline in birth rates is causing schools nationwide to downsize.