Hermitage school directors did not make a decision to close Hermitage Elementary School on Monday; they were simply exploring some options.

"This is a first look at it," said Chuck Rodgers of HHSDR Architects Engineers in Sharon.

Rodgers presented facts and figures about the possibility linking Artman Elementary and Delahunty Middle schools with an eight- or 16-classroom addition and closing Hermitage Elementary.

The plans Rodgers presented were completed in 1996, when talk of consolidating the two buildings began.

Rodgers presented several options for the project, ranging in cost from $2.2 million from $6.7 million. If Delahunty is renovated, it could be eligible for a state reimbursement of about 30 percent of the cost because the building is 35 years old.

Rodgers recommended against renovating Delahunty because the building is in good shape and it would cost more -- $4.5 million -- to renovate the school and add eight classrooms than it would to simply build eight classrooms linking the schools -- $2.2 million.

"These are early discussions," outgoing board president Duane Piccirilli cautioned. "One option is to combine the two (schools), and it would be cost-efficient, but there are a lot of things the new board will have to discuss."

Currently, Artman is a kindergarten through second-grade building, Hermitage houses third- and fourth-graders and Delahunty Middle accommodates fifth- and sixth-grade students.

Should the board choose to close Hermitage, said Superintendent Karen Ionta, it would allow Artman to accept kindergarten through third-graders, while Delahunty Middle would house fourth- through sixth-graders. Both buildings could share gymnasium space, Rodgers said.

Hermitage Elementary was built in three stages, with the original building built in 1949, the large edition added in 1951 and the last phase constructed in 1962, according to the school's Web site.

Mrs. Ionta said declining enrollment was not a factor in the board's decision to explore the option of closing the school.

"The building is no longer meeting the needs of the third- and fourth-grade," she said. If the district closes the building, it could still be rented out to social service organizations and other groups, she said.