Digging in for a tough fight, parents are mobilizing to save the Walter F. Haigh School as the School Board considers a master plan that could close the elementary school.

No final decision has been made. Estimates predict the district would save more than $1.5 million by closing Haigh. The facilities plan would spend $4 to $7 million renovating the community’s other five elementary schools over several years.

But it’s an unwelcome approach, say parents of Haigh students.

Many parents intentionally bought homes nearby so their children might attend the school, said Jennifer Wilson, Haigh PTA vice president. Though Haigh is more than 50 years old, it has a positive reputation.

“It’s a nice community school. Most of the families all know each other,” Wilson said. “Studies show kids do better in smaller schools than big schools. Salem had these neighborhood schools and it was a draw to buy a home here.”

Despite her support of Haigh, Wilson doesn’t hesitate to list problems at the building, which was built in 1954. Art and music classes are without permanent space and taught from carts of supplies wheeled from room to room. Administration space is cramped, the school lacks a multipurpose room and children are corralled in class during recess on rainy days.

All of that needs to change, Wilson said, but updating the district’s aging elementary schools doesn’t have to mean ending Haigh’s long history in town.

Last Tuesday at the first of two public forums on the school master plan, Haigh parents were vocal about their concerns.

Living a stone’s throw from Haigh, Elaine Ratay said her daughter Allie, 7, “absolutely loves” the school.

In second grade this year, it’s Allie’s first year at Haigh. It didn’t take long for the school to endear itself, Ratay said. “We’ve had a great experience. I love it that it’s a neighborhood school,” she said.

“My first instinct was, ‘I hope it (doesn’t close) until we’re through.’”

Ratay understands expensive renovations are needed and that may push officials to look at closing the school. But if that means larger classes elsewhere, she doesn’t see the advantage.

The 222 children enrolled at Haigh would be split between five elementary schools, but construction of additional classroom space at those schools should offset crowding, according to the plan.

School Board Member Peter Morgan isn’t sure costs don’t outweigh the benefits. It would at the least mean 60 or 70 new names for each principal to learn, he said, and could strain janitorial and support staff.

While Haigh is on the cusp, more concrete financial information will be needed before the board can take a position one way or the other, according to Morgan.

The decision will likely be made in the coming weeks as the board weighs whether to move ahead with elements of the master plan in time for the March ballot.

“Haigh parents have made it clear (closing the school) is not acceptable. It’s worth the money to them to keep it open,” Morgan said.

In the months ahead, the community as a whole will need to decide what it’s worth. “Is it worth a million and a half, plus operational savings to keep Haigh open?” Morgan asked.