With the specter of closure hanging over schools in Colorado Springs School District 11, dozens of people turned out Thursday at three community meetings at targeted schools with one big question: "Why us?"

They voiced anger and frustration over the process and choices being made, and concern about the turmoil for students and teachers. The pride in their schools and neighborhoods was evident throughout the roughly two-hour sessions.

But after they had listened, prodded for answers and occasionally vented their frustration, there was an overwhelming sense of sad resignation that change must come.

Over and over, people made statements such as, "I know we probably need to close schools, but," and pushed the administrators taking questions to say why their school made the list and another didn't.

One woman left the Irving Middle School meeting in tears. At Washington Elementary, some staff members angrily shook their heads when they disagreed with statements. At Adams Elementary, parents wanted to know why their students would be moved into another building that is in poorer condition than Adams.

The meetings at those schools were the first of 13 planned in the next week at schools that would feel the most impact from a school utilization plan that is nearing completion.

The sweeping plan calls for the district to move students from eight elementary schools by next fall and close or repurpose the buildings.

It also would realign numerous programs, create three kindergarten-to-eighth-grade magnet schools, convert Wasson High School to a magnet with no neighborhood boundaries, and close Irving.

The final recommendations are to be posted Monday on the district's Web site, and a public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Coronado High School.

Final action on the recommendations is expected at the regular board meeting on Feb. 25.

Thursday's meetings were intended to be a time for community members to ask questions about the plans specific to their area.

But many couldn't resist pleading for their school. And while nobody wanted it to be an "us vs. them" discussion, some suggested that another school might be a better target.

At Irving, many parents said they couldn't understand why their school might close when it has more students and higher achievement than Emerson Middle School.

Emerson has been a charter school, but recently it was forced into a restructuring plan because of failing performance.

The D-11 board decided to keep the school open and is pursuing a partnership with the U.S. Space Foundation to create a space and technology program and teacher training center there.

Deputy Superintendent Mike Poore told the Irving crowd that both schools were considered for the magnet program, but the Emerson facilities are better, and the location could attract students from surrounding districts.

At Washington, a supporter pleaded to keep the school as is, citing the staff's passion, the neighborhood's support and the school's academic progress.

The plan calls for moving the regular students to West and moving in the Montessori program now at Buena Vista. Washington would be a magnet school with no neighborhood boundaries.

Others at the meeting were skeptical of the district's proposal to move the students from there and two other schools into West and create a kindergarten-to-eighth-grade school based around SAIL, an interdisciplinary and project-based program.

Natalie Knudson said she could imagine her 5-year-old attending school with eighth-graders.

Michael Lloyd Davies, who has children in the second and fifth grades at Washington and another child who will soon be a student there, said he isn't convinced of the savings and believes the plan lacks details.

To see the latest details on the district's plan, go to www.d11.org.

School meetings

• 3 p.m. today at Jefferson Elementary, 1801 N. Howard Ave.
• 2:45 p.m. Monday at Whittier Elementary, 2904 W. Kiowa St.
• 4:30 p.m. Monday at Longfellow Elementary, 3302 Alpine Place.
• 6:30 p.m. Monday at West Middle School, 1920 W. Pikes Peak Ave.
• 7 a.m. Tuesday at Wasson High School, 2115 Afton Way.
• 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Buena Vista Elementary, 1620 W. Bijou St.
• 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Stratton Elementary, 2460 Paseo Road.
• 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Pike Elementary, 2510 N. Chestnut St.
• 2:45 p.m. Thursday at Ivywild Elementary, 1604 S. Cascade Ave.
• 5 p.m. Thursday at Hunt Elementary, 917 E. Moreno Ave.