The state Board of Education is likely to vote to close Wailupe Valley School at the end of the school year in a special meeting to be held Friday.

The board has called a special meeting to discuss the closure of Wailupe and a plan to transfer its 78 students to nearby 'Aina Haina Elementary beginning next school year.

The meeting will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the Queen Lili'uokalani Building on Punchbowl Street. Public testimony will be accepted at that time.

"It seems quite likely that the board will accept the recommendation of the task force (to close Wailupe), but I would never want to predict that it's a done deal," said Karen Knudsen, BOE vice chairwoman.

In an 8-0 vote on Thursday, a task force made up of parents, school administrators and community members recommended to the state Department of Education that the small elementary school be consolidated with 'Aina Haina, just about a mile away.

If Wailupe were to be closed, it would be the first consolidation of students since 1987, when students from 'Anuenue Elementary were shifted to nearby Palolo Elementary.

Closing Wailupe Valley could result in significant cost savings to the state, according to a report released March 6 by the task force.

According to the report, the state spends more than twice as much per pupil at Wailupe Valley ($12,079) than at 'Aina Haina ($5,140).

Taking into account total operating costs for the school, the state would save about $804,000 a year if Wailupe were to close and its staff and students moved. Wailupe also has a repair and maintenance backlog of some $9.7 million.

The task force had been meeting since Dec. 23 to decide whether to recommend merging Wailupe Valley with 'Aina Haina.

Citing budget cuts of at least $40 million a year for the next two years, education officials in December embarked on the long and controversial process of studying consolidation of schools as a cost-saving measure.

Other areas such as Ka'a'awa, Moloka'i and Maui are also involved in a process to close or consolidate schools in their communities.