? Hundreds of outraged parents attended a special meeting Wednesday night about the possible closure of two Brick elementary schools.

In order to close a budget gap, education officials could close down Herbertsville and Osbornville elementary schools in July. The interim school superintendent blames spiking costs and a lack of state aid.

?We?re down now to a shortfall of $3 million,? said Interim Brick Township School Superintendent Melindo Persi. ?In order to make up that shortfall we?re giving the board options, one is close schools to save $1.9 million.?

Parents, on the other hand, fear the kids will ultimately be the ones suffering from the move.

?They?ll be taking them out of classes to merge them into other schools with approximately 30 students per class when now they?re in classrooms of 19 per class,? said parent P.J. Scelfo.

School board members say no decision was made at Wednesday?s meeting as it was just a work session. If the move is approved, it would affect 500 students.