MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Metropolitan School District's Board of Education changed its mind on Monday and reversed its decision to consolidate Marquette Elementary Schoool.

TALKBACK: What Do You Think?

Neighbors to Marquette school packed the board meeting and gave a standing ovation to the board's decision to keep the school open.

"We're really excited," said parent Daithi Wolfe. "We really appreciate the time to reconsider. I really appreciate the fact that there was creative thinking involved."

That creative thinking includes the board making cuts to two departments and a principal position. It also means sharing space with alternative programs, WISC-TV reported.

The board had voted earlier this month to consolidate Marquette with Lapham Elementary School. The Marquette building, located on the city's East Side, would have housed some of the district's alternative classes programs. The school's 250 students would have attended Lapham.

As part of the new plan, Marquette and Lapham will remain open.

Parents said the compromise is worth it.

"I feel like I just passed a huge final exam. Like I just got my degree or something. That's how if feels to me," said Marquette PTO president Laura Chastain.

Two board members declined support of the measure and said that others weren't looking at the budget's bigger picture.

"I think there are some very valid management reasons to make this change," said board president Arlene Silviera. "We are supposed to be consistent to be looking at the entire district."

But in the end, Marquette parents said that it would be the best decision for their children.

"We wanted to be heard," said Chastain. "We wanted to have our story understood, not just the passion we have, but really the truth of it and it went our way."

The board needs to cut more than $200,000 to keep Marquette open.

As part of the new plan, both Marquette and Lapham schools will keep their respective principals.

The consolidation was originally part of an overall plan to trim about $8 million from the district's budget. The district would have saved about $201,000 directly by consolidating Marquette with Lapham, WISC-TV reported.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.