ANDERSON, Ind.­ — About 200 people attended the Anderson Community Schools board meeting on Tuesday, and most applauded speakers who urged the board to keep Anderson and Highland open as schools with grades 7-12.

“I see great potential and excitement in that 7-12 building plan,” Highland High School physics teacher David Perrel told the board. He said it would open new opportunities to those in the younger grades, and smooth the transition between middle and high school for students and teachers.

Facing a deficit of $9 million or more over the next three years, the board in October was urged by interim Superintendent Lennon Brown to consider school-consolidation plans that would close four elementaries, and either leave Anderson with one high school or two schools with grades 7-12.

Four people spoke on the issue Tuesday night, all in favor of preserving Anderson and Highland as junior-senior high schools.

“Of the two options, I think option B is the option we would prefer,” Amy Conrad told the board. “It’s best for kids because we’d be able to keep more kids involved” in activities.

Josh Higgins, who has children in fifth and eighth grades at Anderson Community Schools, said the estimated cost saving for a one-high-school system did not include transportation costs, and that those added costs would likely negate any expected extra savings from going to one high school.

Higgins told the board that the distance school buses would have to travel across the district in a one-high-school system “is going to add more than $1.2 million in costs, I can guarantee you that.”

The board took no action on school closings at Tuesday’s meeting. Board President P.T. Morgan said the board could consider a recommendation at the Dec. 8 meeting. Any closings would take effect at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com