The closure of James O. Kaler Elementary school may not be a done deal.

The question could go to South Portland voters if a referendum petition receives signatures from 10% of the number of voters who voted in the last gubernatorial election. 

The city clerk issued a petition to resident Wheeler Boyd-Boffa on Wednesday, more than a week after the board voted to close Kaler Elementary School and reconfigure the remaining four elementary schools by grade levels.

Boyd-Boffa said he will not begin collecting signatures unless he has support from parents in all five elementary school communities. 

“I’m not categorically opposed to school closure and reconfiguration as a means to help address the current budget crisis or to further the district’s mission or vision,” he said during the public comment period at the budget meeting Tuesday. “But I do not believe a sufficient case has been made for a closure or configuration.” 

A petition must be presented to the school board within 30 days of the decision to close the school, according to state law. 

Recall papers were also taken out against School Board Chair Rosemarie De Angelis and Vice Chair Adrian Dowling last week. Dowling resigned Monday. 

The school district presented elementary school reconfiguration as a cost-saving solution at budget workshops during the past few months amid a grisly budget season.

The school district had to cut about $8.4 million from its proposed budget to hold the tax increase to 6%, the higher end of what school board members and city councilors have recommended, according to Assistant Superintendent Johanna Prince. And about 50 department employees were notified last month that their positions would be eliminated.

Closing Kaler and reconfiguring the four other schools would save the district $3.1 million for this year’s budget and $16.4 million over the next five years, according to initial research presented at a budget workshop last month.

If the district does not move forward with closing a school, it would need to cut an additional 12 to 16 positions to balance the budget, according to Prince.