Neighborhood advocates on Tuesday asked the Lawrence City Commission to become involved in the school district facilities study that may lead to the closing of several schools.

“There’s a perception that what happens is purely a school board decision, and perhaps from a funding standpoint that’s true,” said Scott Bailey, a Centennial Neighborhood resident and a candidate for city commission in 2000. “But the decisions that get made, and how they affect the neighborhoods, will have to be dealt with by you and the people who sit in your chairs in the future.”

Commissioners seemed split on whether to get involved.

“I think this is a decision the school board will make with an enormous amount of input from consultants, the neighborhoods and staff,” Mayor Sue Hack, a retired junior high teacher, said after the meeting. “And that’s the way it should be.”

Commissioner Mike Rundle disagreed, saying the city commission “has a role to play in the life of our schools.”

“The health of our city, the health of our neighborhoods and the health of our schools are inextricably intertwined,” Rundle said.

Tuesday’s request stems from the district’s effort to develop a 20-year master plan for district facilities.

The school board is looking most closely at a proposal to shut down East Heights, Centennial and Riverside schools. A second proposal would lead to the closure of New York, Centennial and Riverside schools.

Both plans include renovations to remaining elementary schools, costing about $30 million.

Several activists attended Tuesday’s meeting with Bailey. One, Arly Allen, continued to discuss the issue with commissioners after the meeting. Another, Bob Blank, said the city created the damage by allowing for decades up to four unrelated people to live together in single-family zoned homes  those unrelated people crowded out families with children, he said, decimating the schools. The city reduced the number to three a year ago, but Blank said the effort was weak.

“There’s a lot of anxiety out there,” Bailey told the commission. “If there was ever a time to put aside time and listen to your constituents, this is it.”