LANGLEY — It was a swan song that ruffled plenty of feathers.

Two soon-departing members of the South Whidbey School Board refused to budge from their controversial decision to close Langley Middle School, and the board voted 3-1 Wednesday to continue consolidating schools on Maxwelton Road.

It’s a decision that may not stick, however. Board members Leigh Anderson and Rich Parker are on the final six months of their terms, and many expect the new majority that will take over in January will take a fresh look at the consolidation effort that was repeatedly promised but never fulfilled.

Board Member Steve Scoles, long the sole vote to save LMS, again tried to convince his fellow board members that the decision to close the beloved Langley landmark wasn’t based on the best information the district has.

Students should stay put, he said.

“I do not accept the notion that we are forced to move them,” Scoles said.

Scoles was adamant that estimates to fix LMS were exaggerated, and other options remain other than closing the iconic school and the oldest building owned by the South Whidbey School District.

He noted the extensive evaluation conducted earlier by a committee that studied facilities, a report that identified the primary school campus as the worst of the lot.

Board Chairman Rich Parker and Board Member Leigh Anderson upheld the board’s July 2009 decision to close LMS and consolidate the middle school onto the South Whidbey High School campus by September 2012.

Anderson and Parker cited the cost to repair and operate LMS, as well as the liability and risk to the district as reasons to close it as soon as possible.

Both Parker and Anderson are not seeking re-election and their terms expire at the end of December. With Scoles running unopposed — and two candidates who have called for a fair assessment of all the district’s facilities also assured a seat on the board — many expect LMS to get a non-biased review once the new board takes over in January.

At this week’s board meeting, the board was again hammered for sticking stubbornly to its earlier decision.

“You have betrayed the trust of this learning community,” said Eric Hood, who criticized the district and the board for “waffling” on decisions that affected students, and retaining administrators while laying off teachers.

The bitter back-and-forth covered many points already addressed in previous board meetings.

Molly MacLeod-Roberts, a parent of two South Whidbey students, urged the board to shutter LMS for the safety of the students and repeated oft-shared concerns about the seismic stability of the old school.

“Children — my two children — are at risk,” she said. “All the students, all the teachers — at risk.”

She said should the building collapse on her children and other students, she would be first in line to sue the district.

“The board and the district cannot take the risk,” MacLeod-Roberts added.

The board voted 3-1 to pass a resolution calling for schools to be consolidated on Maxwelton Road, with Board Member Jill Engstrom voting with the majority. Scoles was the lone “nay” vote, and Board Member Fred O’Neal was absent.

Though the school board had promised to start a community conversation that would reboot the consolidation talk in a way where all voices would be heard, this week’s discussion returned to familiar territory; 90 minutes of back-and-forth between the school board members, with none giving ground on their positions.

Anderson reiterated her support to close LMS and divert any funds saved in the process to keeping teachers on staff. Parker said he wanted a “good faith effort” to find a creative solution to the problem of excess facilities and declining enrollment.

One of Scoles’ repeated rebukes was about the state of the district for the new board. He asked what expectations will be set before three new school administrators, a new superintendent and two new board members.

“I consider it grossly irresponsible,” Scoles said.

“With a new board, I don’t think you’re gonna see it happen,” he added.

After questioning Engstrom and other board members about why LMS had to close, and Scoles stating he disagreed with the reasons provided, Parker intervened.

As board chairman, Parker implemented a five-minute limit for each speaker, then interrupted Scoles when he thought he had gone on for too long.

Scoles was incensed.

“Well, I don’t accept that,” Scoles said.

Anderson reiterated that the district’s focus is to provide the best education for students, and that teachers are more important than buildings in educating students.

Engstrom again said she wanted to allow for more time to discuss the consolidation and hear what could and should be done. But her hopes that the board would talk about possible grade configurations in schools on Maxwelton Road went nowhere.