After months of deliberations, the Flagstaff Unified School District governing board has settled on four schools for closure: Sinagua High, Flagstaff Middle, and South Beaver and Christensen elementary schools.

The board voted 4-1 Tuesday, with Beth Heerding dissenting, to shutter the four schools and adopt a K-5/6-8/9-12 grade configuration across the district. The closures and configurations go into effect this fall.

Board member Chris Bavasi said there's no dispute that schools should be closed, and he poured himself into research before coming to what he said was a commonsense conclusion.

"It's unfortunate. It's sad. But it's necessary," Bavasi said.