Some had concerns about traffic. Others questioned the rational for closing schools. Many warned about community fragmentation and the loss of service and education advantages for children.

But all had the same message for School District 43 trustees considering closing eight schools: Don't close our schools.

More than 200 people packed the Winslow Centre gym Wednesday night, some waving banners and flags in support of their school (another meeting was held the night before). But the carnival atmosphere quickly turned to business as presenters, many with PowerPoint presentations and videos, made suggestions, criticized school board statistics or outright pleaded with trustees to keep their schools open.

"This would tear apart the entire Lincoln community," said Vincent Gorman, a teacher who commutes each day from Surrey and loves the school and its neighbourhood.

"Forty-two families will be unsafe," said Chris St. Germaine, parent advisory council chair for Meadowbrook school, who presented a video of parents with children and dogs in tow trying to walk along Lougheed Highway during morning rush hour.

"The faces of Millside children, they are not just a number," said Tina Feaver, who said it would be a shame to close the school as it is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

"They lose the connections and close relationships," said College Park parent Cathy Burton, who said she's worried about sending 126 students to Seaview to make a combined population of 316.

Mountain View is a school where people look after each other, said Judy Jackson, the school's secretary. "I worry about what will happen with the children," she said as she helped a group of students with their PowerPoint presentation on "Why our Laptops are Important."

Closing the school would mean next year's Grade 5s wouldn't get the same opportunity, the students said. "That does not seem fair."

Closure could also mean the loss of services, including onsite daycares and lunch programs at vulnerable schools.

"This is a tragedy; this isn't just schools," said Coquitlam Maillardville MLA Diane Thorne, who predicted as many as 300 daycare spaces could be lost.

The provincial government also came under fire as NDP MLA Mike Farnworth (Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain) blamed Lincoln's proposed closure – and those of many other schools – on the lack of funding for seismic repairs.

"One year ago, it was a school worth keeping," Farnworth said. "A year later, we're talking about closing. What changed? Nothing."

"School closures should not be the topic of these meetings," said Coquitlam Teachers' Association vice-president Gord Wickerson, who said the district is being squeezed by provincial government downloading and chronic under-funding.

But the district's own closure policies took the heaviest hit from many presenters, who said statistical information to back SD43's claim of declining enrolment is wrong.

Cramming Coronation Park students into others schools won't leave any room for students who move into new neighbourhoods being built in Inlet Centre, said Shannon Breckenridge.

School stats for Lincoln "don't jive with the city's community plan," said Port Coquitlam Coun. Greg Moore, noting that new families will soon replace empty nesters while new homes on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam haven't even been built yet. "I think you need to replace existing schools first before you build new schools in another area," he said.

Pointing to other cities where redevelopment caused new schools to be built and mothballed schools to re-open, Moody school parent Carol Grice said her school doesn't meet the district's school closure policy. Moving kids would cause transportation and safety problems, and there's a lot of support, including a 700 name petition, to save the school.

Vanier parent Tangyu Wang said nearly 1,000 people signed a petition to keep the school open. "Student decline will not continue," she said. "Why close it?"

The future of eight schools hangs in the balance this weekend as trustees weigh concerns of parents after two nights of meetings with recommendations they are expected to get today from the school district's senior leadership team.

Parents won't know until Monday which schools, if any, are on the list for possible closure. Trustees will make their decision, based on the recommendations, Tuesday at at meeting to be held at Dr. Charles Best secondary school.

But for many parents, it's been a long road since the school closure process began Nov. 28. Now, says Jamie McCullough, who presented Wednesday night, parents can only sit and wait.

"We've done everything we possibly can do," he said.

dstrandberg@tricitynews.com