NASH (AP) - The Nash elementary school has just nine students this year, and with only six expected next year, its fate seemed clear.

"There just comes a time when the social education isn't going to be there," said Linda Johnston, the only full-time teacher and administrator at the school for the past two years.

The elementary school will hold its last classes in May.

The school, about seven miles northwest of Grafton, was built in 1957. This year's student population includes no first-graders and only one student in four of the eight grades.

The decision to close was made by parents and the school board after an informational meeting last week, but the board had been considering it for months, Johnston said.

"They (parents) want their kids to have social interaction with other kids that they're not necessarily related to - or just a bigger classroom setting where they learn different social skills," teachers aide Rochelle Grindahl said.

The Nash school, formed from three one-room schools, has never been a large one. Its largest class of 8th graders was in 1975, when it had eight.

Nash School Board President Bucky Peterson said students in the district will have their choice of where they want to attend classes next year. Johnston said the Nash school borders four other districts.

"I have a lot of mixed emotions, but I do feel at this time it's what's going to be best for the kids," Johnston said.

Officials hope the building can be sold. Johnston said she's not sure what she will do yet.

"My four kids went to school here, but they were in classes of 29, 30," she said. "I've been coming here every day for a long time. But not all change is bad. We have to look at it that way and move on."