South Whidbey school board members are happy to talk about almost anything.

Except how they plan to vote on school restructuring during tonight’s pivotal meeting.

“If you want to know my views, you’ll have to come out tonight,” said board member Jill Engstrom.

For months, the argument over how, when or even why local schools should be restructured has driven opponents and supporters into two basic camps.

There are those who want the South Whidbey School District board to take swift action in dealing with a $1.85 million budget shortfall — caused mainly through continued declining enrollment — by closing Langley Middle School and shifting its students to the high school campus.

On the other side — which includes many LMS teachers and staff — that choice doesn’t make sense because the district would lose historic, social and practical attributes found at the middle school that supporters believe cannot be replaced.

A smaller group, associated with the latter viewpoint, wants the board to hold off on its decision until school begins, declaring that a decision tonight is a rush to judgement.

The board plans to decide at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the elementary school.

Board member Rich Parker said he plans to keep an open mind to the last minute.

“I’m going to make a motion we form a ‘committee of the whole’ within the meeting itself to get everyone’s views on the table,” he said.

“One of the pieces we’re missing is a full and frank discussion among ourselves,” Parker explained. “The essential question we’re faced with is whether to consolidate the district into two or three buildings and the timeline for either option.”

Engstrom said she’ll vote for what she feels is best for the students.

“The kids are my priority,” she said. “I’ve made a decision but don’t want to reveal it.”

She did say that the acrimonious dealings between those who favor closing LMS and those opposed hasn’t been helpful.

“Two separate views, people are talking within each group but not to each other, isn’t the best way to solve the problem,” she said. “But we’ve given people plenty of chances at meetings and workshops to weigh in and have their plans added to the mix.”

Board chairman Fred O’Neal said he met with a group on Monday that has yet another plan, separate from the seven restructuring schemes already noted on the district’s Web site.

“My mind hasn’t changed, but now there may be qualifiers,” he said.

O’Neal has previously stated he wanted the process to move forward and was against delaying the decision.

He refused to say which way he will vote prior to the meeting, however.

The public will get once last chance to weigh in tonight, but it will be a shortened opportunity.

“There will be public comment allowed, but as a procedural matter, it will be limited to one hour,” he said. “Otherwise, we’ll end up with a filibuster.”

Board member Leigh Anderson said that, either way, a decision definitely needs to be made.

“The devil is is implementing the details of whatever it is we decide,” she said. “That process is critical to its success.”

The South Whidbey school board will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the elementary school community room on Maxwelton Road in Langley.

Although it is a regular business meeting — including a budget review and reports from the superintendent and department heads — the primary focus is on the board’s decision regarding district consolidation and restructuring.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.