DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — DeKalb County's school board has decided, for now, to spare the Fernbank Science Center from closing.

Closing the center would have saved nearly $5 million, but hundreds of people signed an online petition in hopes of keeping it open.

WSB Radio reports that board members meeting Tuesday night decided to look elsewhere to fill a $73 million budget gap. The board is now considering a property tax increase, two teacher furlough days, the elimination of 140 central office positions, and increasing class size by one student.

CBS Atlanta reports that the property tax hike would amount to an extra $80 per year on a $200,000 home.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the school system headquarters in Stone Mountain.