Houghton School kindergarten students, in Saline, look out their bus window as they pull away from the school for the last time, Wednesday afternoon. The school is closing because of budget problems.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

As the school buses pulled up to Houghton Elementary in Saline, the hugs between teachers grew tighter and the tears began to fall.

Smiles spread on the faces of children who realized the start of summer vacation was imminent, but for the teachers and parents gathered, this last day of school was filled with sadness.

Houghton closed its doors for the final time Wednesday, marking an end to a teaching institution that’s been a part of the Saline community since 1966.

The financial realities facing the Saline school district made Houghton’s closure inevitable. Saline superintendent Scot Graden said in February the district faced a $4.2 million budget deficit.

Closing Houghton will save the district at least $600,000 annually, said Steve Laatsch, assistant superintendent for instructional services.

“You can certainly say what else could we do, and certainly people want to look at other options, which I feel we did,” said Laatsch.

“We explored other means, but in the end you can’t justify the expense anymore. I think people do understand it.”

Houghton initially opened to accommodate children in kindergarten through the fifth grade. In recent years, the school focused on preschool and kindergarten classes.

With preschoolers and kindergartners under one roof, Houghton teachers and administrators were able to use a universal curriculum.

“We’re a building that put all of our energies into five and six-year-olds, and it was designed to take care of them, and that’s what we did,” said principal Jesse Stevenson, who’s been a part of the Saline district for 17 years. “It’s been anticipated for quite awhile, but when it finally comes, it’s always harder.”

Situated on Mills Road, the school became an integral part of the community for nearly 45 years.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Houghton PTO president Dawn Ducca said. “A lot of the parents that have kids here now, they went here.”

The school taught more than 700 students annually as Saline’s population ballooned in the 1990s.

“We were splitting at the seams at one point,” Stevenson said.

Houghton’s 400 students and future kindergarten classes will be split among Saline’s three elementary schools - Harvest, Pleasant Ridge and Woodland Meadows.

"This building sets the tone for education in Saline,” said Chris Pasola, a teacher for 38 years with 11 years at Houghton. “It’s welcoming. It’s warm. (Parents) know the children are well taken care of and protected. Parents are going to sorely miss it.”

As for the school’s 40 teachers, they’ll be reassigned within the district.

“This is a very special place,” said Pasola. “It’s the chemistry of the people. It’s a fit. No one is afraid to do something that’s not on their job assignment. It’s extremely emotional.”

Stevenson is unsure what awaits Houghton.

“It’s been very rewarding for me, especially these last seven years here at Houghton,” Stevenson said. “It was the best seven years I’ve had without a doubt.”