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More than 100 parents gathered at Carlsbad High School on Wednesday for the school board's meeting. The district is facing about a $9 million budget deficit for the 2013-2014 school year.

Wednesday was a decision day for three schools, including Buena Vista Elementary. Vicki McLees' twin sons attend the school.

"Please give our kids a chance to continue to thrive," she told school board members.

Other parents made impassioned pleas to keep the kindergarten through fifth grade campus open, even though closing it would save the district about $410,000 per year.

But it was money already invested in Buena Vista Elementary that may have saved it. The board cited the new playground and security fences that the district was reluctant to walk away from.

"This is for me, a financial decision," said Kelli Moors, the Carlsbad Unified School District board president. "I'm very concerned about the investment we've made in this campus so far and how that might go to waste."

After more three hours of debate, board members voted 4-1 to keep Buena Vista Elementary School open.

McLees expressed joy at the board's decision.

"I am so excited right now," she said. "I'm so happy. It's been an emotional roller coaster and I'm just ecstatic right now."

Also, the board unanimously voted to keep Carlsbad Seaside Academy and Carlsbad Village Academy open. Both schools' campuses will be relocated to the Carlsbad High School campus.