East Heights School teacher Adela Solis said Thursday that her studentsâ anxiety about possible closure of their school was escalating to unhealthy levels.

âÂÂMy children are internalizing … that theyâÂÂve done something wrong,â said Solis, who wants to keep East Heights open. âÂÂThis concerns me greatly.âÂÂ

She spoke at district headquarters during the fourth of six public meetings on the districtâÂÂs facility study.

The Lawrence school board is trying to determine how to reorganize its collection of schools.

In addition to floating a bond referendum in 2003 to finance building improvements, the board has tentatively decided to close East Heights, Centennial and Riverside elementary schools.

The study has been in progress for one year, but no formal votes have been taken. That is expected to change Nov. 18 when the school board meets to decide contents of the bond issue.

ItâÂÂs expected to be more than $50 million and include a new South Junior High School, renovation of Lawrence High School, expansion of Lawrence Alternative High School and additions to elementary schools to reflect movement of students after consolidation.

Solis joined 10 other people who spoke against school consolidation. More than 30 people attended the forum.

Melissa Rangel, who has a first-grade child at Riverside, said closing her sonâÂÂs school would tarnish their neighborhood in north-central Lawrence.

âÂÂWeâÂÂve been overwhelmed by the sense of community, which comes from our neighborhood school,â she said.

Centennial parent Brent Lamb said the boardâÂÂs preference of closing Centennial instead of Cordley didnâÂÂt make sense. If judged on facts rather than emotional or political considerations, he said, Cordley would be shut down.

He also objected to a suggestion of using the Centennial property for new LHS baseball and soccer practice fields.

âÂÂIâÂÂd like the board to explain why theyâÂÂre willing to sacrifice (Centennial studentsâÂÂ) education so LHS can have more athletic facilities,â Lamb said.

One district patron, John Mitchell, said he favored elementary school consolidation. He said bigger schools with at least two classes at each grade offered students more educational opportunities and a better mix of classroom teachers and support staff.

âÂÂLarger schools, at least in Lawrence, are warm, caring and inviting learning environments,â said Mitchell, who has children at Quail Run School.