All 18 Lawrence elementary school principals even three at schools earmarked for closure signed a letter asking parents to support changes in district facilities.

A one-page letter sent home with students this week explains the school board is involved in a comprehensive facility study. The goal is to write a 20-year facility master plan and put together a package of building improvements for a bond issue set to go before voters in 2003. The preliminary cost is more than $50 million.

The board also has tentatively agreed Centennial, East Heights and Riverside schools should be closed.

The letter was signed by Centennial Principal Gina Grigaitis, East Heights Principal Gary Johnson and Riverside Principal Linda Rogers.

“Our school district is at the junction of an educational crossroads,” the letter starts. “How we decide to proceed will have a lasting effect not just on the bricks and mortar of our school buildings, but also on the education of our children and the future of the Lawrence community.”

It says the school board faces difficult decisions on how to deliver quality education with a limited budget.

“As such, the board of education may choose to make changes, such as boundary shifts and school consolidations, that will affect some of us in a variety of ways,” the letter says. “We believe the school board will make its decisions in the best interest of all students in our community.

“As principals, we are advocates for children and the education they receive. This has not and will not change. We would not endorse any proposal that detracts from our mission of educating children in the best way possible

“If changes are needed in order for the school district to uphold its commitment to high quality education, we look forward to partnering with the parents of our school communities to ensure that the needs of students come first.”