A state school board committee has recommended turning over the facilities at Wailupe Valley Elementary School back to the city, which owns the land and buildings, effective July 1.

The Administrative Services Committee voted yesterday to send the recommendation to the board for action. The board voted on May 1 to transfer Wailupe students to Aina Haina Elementary for the next school year.

State education officials said enrollment was down to 75 children and that closing the school would lead to an annual savings of about $775,000.

A task force evaluating the closure said academic test scores were higher at Aina Haina, and hoped students at Wailupe would receive a better education.