After months of discussions and public hearings, the Selma City School Board voted 3-2 Thursday to keep Byrd School, School of Discovery and Phoenix School in operation.

School Board Chairman Henry Hicks and Udo Ufomadu voted in favor of the motion to shutter the schools, which was opposed by Brenda Obomanu, Frank Chestnut Jr. and Holland Powell.

Following the vote, Byrd principal Beth Taylor said she was happy to see the board had listened when concerned parents and supporters spoke.

“We had prayers, public support, community support and statewide support,” she said. “There were people from all over this state who had been Byrd students in the past and signed the petition to show that this was an important school to keep open.”

School board member Frank Chestnut Jr., whose district housed the three schools that were up for closure, echoed these sentiments.

“I’m pleased that the board made the decision which looked at all of the data and considered what the people said,” he said. “This is the right decision for the children of our city. This decision tells me we are truly doing what is best for the children in our system.”

While the school closure issue has been put to rest for now, questions regarding where the school board goes from here are just beginning.

Selma City Schools superintendent Don Jefferson said there are a number of uncertainties facing the board as they try to establish functional budgets for the coming year.

“The FY 2012 budget has not been approved by the legislature so we don’t really know what the situation is going to be in relation to support personnel and extra curricular activities,” he said. “We are already in the hole for transportation and equipment for athletics.”

Making the numbers work, board president Henry Hicks said, will start an entirely new process.

“Right now we are going to have to go back and start the process of looking at what Plan B is going to look like and where the finances are going to come from,” he said. “We’re going back to the drawing board and will hopefully find a solution that will help the students.”

One of the most important processes for now, Hicks said, will be bridging the gap between the communities in the districts.

“I pray we can move forward,” he said.

“It’s time for us now to start the healing.”

With the issue of closures in the rear view mirror, Jefferson said the board must push forward and continue to work together toward a solution.

“We’re not going to take our ball and go home,” he said.

“It’s time to go to work. It’s time to roll our sleeves up and work a little harder to move forward.”