Seven public consultation meetings have been held, numerous impassioned speeches have been given and plans presented to keep local schools open. But what chance do they have of reversing the board’s decision to close 11 district schools by the fall? The outlook isn’t good. The school board needs to overcome a $9.2 million deficit for the 2002/2003 school year budget. They’re hoping $2.3 million of that comes from closing schools. The recent decision to take Springwood Elementary off the closure list because the school its students were slated to move to Wildwood has severe structural problems, puts them behind on those savings. And so far at least one trustee isn’t convinced the solutions they’ve seen from parents can produce the same savings as closing schools.