About a half dozen current and former AJ Moore Academy students lined the entrance of University High School Monday night.

In their hands were homemade signs with messages to save their school. The effort began last month after recent graduate James Y. Rauhut learned his school was among those on the list of schools facing closure. The news forced Rauhut, now a freshman at the University of Texas, into action.

"With AJ Moore Academy students, they're very involved in the community," he said. "With a 96.1 percent graduation rate, these are the children that can get out there and know what they're talking about."

He created the group Waco for AJ Moore. The group intends to spread the word and get others involved in helping to keep the school open.

Rauhut will come up with his own “Blue Plan” proposal with suggestions on how to keep the school open.

"AJ Moore Academy is a wonderful experience with certain career academies that make sure you're prepared before you even enter your major in college," he said. "It offers counselors and principals in the administration that say you're going to college whether you like it or not. I just don't feel that's at every school in Waco ISD."

In the face of an expected $3.4 million shortfall, the district is considering closing AJ Moore Academy along with several other schools in the district to cut costs.

"Nobody wants to close any schools. Nobody wants to re-purpose any schools, but because of a $3.4 million shortfall we really don't have a choice," Waco ISD Superintendent Bonny Cain said.

On Monday, as part of a public forum, parents listened to two proposals the board is considering. While the options vary slightly, both include the transition of all fifth grade students into elementary schools and moving sixth graders to middle schools.

It would allow the re-purposing of Lake Air Intermediate School, which would house a consolidated Montessori school currently located at two separate schools. In addition, both plans include the closure of Sul Ross Elementary and North Waco Elementary, along with the consolidation of the Alternative School and the STAR Program.

According to the superintendent, the district is left with few choices on what to cut since they want to avoid cutting teachers. After examining each school, there are several under capacity, which is a costly problem for the district, especially in a tight budget year.

"To keep the budget knife as far away from the classroom as possible, you want to make sure your buildings or your facilities are at 85 percent capacity," she said. "That's the break-even point. If we are not at 85 percent, we lose money every day."

School district officials say it’s not always easy to make decisions solely based on the economics.

"Just looking at the dollars that will be saved, it's a difficult process. There's a human component that we can't overlook," School Board President Pat Atkins said.

While Atkins said decisions as a board member are the easiest when there is little public input or interest, he said that’s not always what is best for the community. That is why the board is holding several public forums to get as much input and feedback from the community before they make their final decision at the end of February.

"That's not to say that every parent is going to get everything they want, but I think that's a perspective we need to hear so we can make these decisions and we've got all the information we need to make the best decision possible," Atkins said.

For more detailed information about the two proposals, or to submit your comments online, click here.