The Madison school board went over a very involved set of considerations on possible school boundary changes Monday night.

There are 13 in all, but administrators asked some of those to be removed from formal consideration. Still, closings loom on the horizon, and that's why concerned teachers, parents, and students turned out to show support of their schools, namely Emerson Elementary.

Emerson PSCT member Kathy Welling says, "We think they're ludacris, and it won't benefit families or children. It's going to end up being more stressful, putting kids into larger classrooms with less support."

"We have the Red Letter News pornography shop closed, a closed Kohl's grocery store, no community center, our elementary school is the heart of our neighborhood," says concerned parent Mark Geistlinger.

Eastside alderperson and father of four Brian Benford addressed the board saying, "Please keep in mind, if you close schools, it affects those I represent. And if you do, you take away the heart of our community. Please don't do that."

Board members say right now they need to focus on a possible Leopold Elementary referendum, which they would need to OK in the end of March to get it on the May ballot.

The school board has a difficult time ahead of them, while facing a $8.6 million shortfall next school year.

The board will hold multiple public hearings on the boundary changes, and make a decision on the best option in late April.