The county councilÕs education review committee on Tuesday examined the proposals to merge the special school with the Whitedown School.
In a report councillors were told that there is widespread support for the merger plans but that the schools are at odds with one another over how the merger should take place.
The Meadow School wants to remain open and absorb the extra staff and pupils.
However, Whitedown wants both schools to ÒcloseÓ and a temporary governing body set up until all staff have been interviewed for posts - in effect opening as a new school.
The committee supported WhitedownÕs point of view and agreed to recommend to the executive member for education, Don Allen, that both schools close and a new school opens on the Meadow site.
Meadow had put forward the argument that its relative size, its very good OFSTED report and the tribute that inspectors paid to the schoolÕs head teacher, senior management team and governors, were reasons why it should not close.
Closure of both schools, in the view of Meadow, would be more destabilising and a great number of staff would be anxious about jobs.
By only closing Whitedown, a smaller number of staff, parents, governors and pupils would be affected, it was claimed.
But WhitedownÕs argument centred upon equal opportunities for staff and, through them, for the children.
It did not want to be marginalized in an enlarged Meadow School and said that closing both was the only way to generate an Òappropriate skills mixÓ among staff.
Chairman of the county councilÕs education policy review committee Mel Kendal said: ÒThe consultations with parents, staff and governors have shown tremendous support for a reorganisation of special education in East Hampshire.
ÒThe buildings at Whitedown are not adequate for their purpose; the facilities at Meadow are also in need of modernisation.
ÒWeÕve recommended that the reorganisation be approved by the executive member for education and that proposals to close Meadow School in Bordon and Whitedown School in Alton, replacing them with a new school at the Meadow site, be agreed in principle.
ÒWe feel that this is the most appropriate way forward in achieving the very best standards of education for some of the countyÕs most vulnerable pupils.
ÒHowever, over £7 million would still need to be identified to take the proposals any further and we would have to look at all of our options very carefully to raise the capital investment needed.Ó
The recommendation follows wide consultation with parents, staff and governors at both schools and with local councils.
Whatever model for the merged schools is adopted, the new school would cater for a wide range of special education needs including autism, learning difficulties and profound and multiple disabilities.
Mainstream schools in East Hampshire have also been consulted on plans to provide individual units for children with special educational needs.
Mill Chase Community School is leading the way by considering a proposal to provide support for ten children.
This would enable pupils with moderate learning difficulties to go to a school close to home, while receiving specialist attention and expertise from the unitÕs staff.
Don Allen is due to examine the merger proposals and consider the recommendation put forward today (Friday).
If he agrees that the merger should go ahead, public notices will be published and there will be a two month consultation. If there are any objections, the decision will be subject to approval by the schools organisation committee.