A School Committee will decide the future of two Franklin County elementary schools Thursday night. 

The Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee will vote on whether to renew the leases for elementary schools in Leyden and Warwick. 

One or both will close in the Spring. 

The Pioneer Valley Regional School District is running at a $450,000 deficit. 

The district’s school committee will decide whether to close Leyden’s Pearl Rhodes Elementary School or Warwick Community School or both. 

Whatever they decide Thursday night, any school closure would go into effect after the end of this school year. 

If both close, Leyden’s elementary students would join Bernardston Elementary School, and Warwick’s would attend classes at Northfield Elementary School. 

The vote is just the first step.  

Another vote will be needed to officially close one or both schools.