Teachers and parents had plenty to say the Waverly School Board Monday.

"If you close two schools, where are you going to put those kids?" One parent said Monday.

"I've never been so concerned for our district as I am right now," one teacher said.

"This decision will change the face of Waverly Schools," another said.

All of them were at the high school auditorium to protest a plan which would close two elementary schools next year-- Windemere View and Elmwood -- moving those students to the remaining two elementary schools.

"With 22 kids in 2nd grade, then you take two classes from each school, plus 3rd, 1st and kindergarten, that's a lot of kids moving into two schools," Grandparent David Hall said.

The plan is just one option recommended by a citizen group after months of review of the district's facilities. Change is necessary because Waverly Schools is looking at a $3.7 million deficit for next year.

"There is no low-hanging fruit anymore, this is our 4th or 5th year of cutting," School Board President John Broughton said.

The superintendent said closing the two schools could save about $800,000, but even with these drastic changes, it would only be a drop in the bucket compared to what the district must save.

"Even if the board was to accept this proposal in it's entirety, it really still leaves a deficit the board will have to address before June 30th of about $3 million," Superintendent Thomas Pillar said.

Besides overcrowding, parents worry what a move would do to the district's youngest students.

All board members could do Monday was listen, knowing no decision will be easy.

"It's a very tough time to be on the board," Broughton said. "We want to do what's right for the district."

Parents and teachers seemed to be behind the citizen committee's plan "C". That would close Waverly East -- then move the fifth graders to elementary schools and the sixth graders to the middle school.

The board has to have a balanced budget by the end of June, so a decision on closing schools must come soon.

**On February 17th, there will be a community forum where parents, teachers, and community members can have a dialog with board members. **