When the Seattle School Board called off phase two of school closures last month it left Viewlands Elementary students and parents feeling a little lost.

"It's mass confusion--no one knows really what to do," said Viewlands parent Lynn Miller. "We are sensible, rational people who want to plan but we don't know what to plan for."

Viewlands, slated for closure during the first round of school closures last summer, was told to wait for phase two to find a new home. But a proposal to merge it with nearby Broadview-Thomson was postponed after public protest over other controversial proposals squashed phase two.

The merger has remained an option and the School Board is scheduled to vote Wednesday, Nov.15.

So far, there has been no outspoken protest against it, but Miller said that could be because there are so many unanswered questions.

Many parents are concerned how Broadview-Thomson will absorb Viewlands' Autism All Inclusion Program, said School Board member Sally Soriano. The program joins students without disabilities in the same classroom as students with the Autism Spectrum Disorder,

"One of the struggles is to make sure this program continues to flourish at Broadview-Thomson," said Soriano. "They need to feel secure that this program is not going to be put in jeopardy."

If approved, the schools would join at Broadview-Thomson to form a PK-8 all inclusion school.

Originally built as a middle school, Broadview-Thomson has room for about 250 additional students. If all 200 Viewlands students transferred over that would bring the population to about 680 students. The district has said they want to create elementary/K-8 schools with 400 to 500 students.

Some parents are worried their child would get lost in such a large school or that class sizes would increase substantially. Jeanne Smart, Broadview Thomson's principal, said she doesn't expect that to happen.

"We're aiming for about 22 to 25 students per class," she said.

The district average is about 26 to 28 students per classroom for elementary and middle schools.

"I know the kids won't get lost," said Smart. "I have high confidence that it will all work out. It might not be perfect and there will be some challenges, but I have an optimistic attitude."

But there is no telling yet how many would transfer over.

Some Viewlands staff members have already left for other positions within the district, said Miller, and about 40 families have moved their children to other schools. Others could choose another school during open enrollment this January.

"It's not the same Viewlands we had last May," said Miller.

The district is fighting two lawsuits that seek to rescind the seven closures approved by the School Board over the summer. A few months ago, Miller would have been excited at the prospect of staying open, but the tenor of Viewlands has changed, she said, and a lot of energy has already been spent preparing for the merger.

"Jeanne Smart is a fantastic principal and the families have been extremely supportive and welcoming," she said. "If it worked out, it could be done really positively."

Smart said Viewlands' students could get access to new programs and resources like bi-lingual services if they came to Broadview. There are also diversity and economic similarities between the schools, she said. About half its student bodies are on the federal free and reduced lunch program.

"The kids already play together and shop at the same stores," said Smart. "They live in the same neighborhood. In the greater community, we are already integrated."

Five of the seven members have already announced support of the merger but Soriano said she hasn't made up her mind yet.

"I'm still wanting to work out all the details," she said.

Soriano, who is participating in a lawsuit to cancel all school closures, said the closure process wasn't fair because the first round couldn't be debated to the extent of the second phase since much of it took place when school was out for the summer.

"I think I can speak for most of the board members when I say there is a sense that this kind of process has to be longer term," said Soriano.

The district is also faced with big issues that have surfaced as result of closures, such as equity and fairness. Most of the schools slated for closure are predominately minority and low-income.

"We need to look at schools that are shrinking and figure out why and do something to fix it," said Soriano. "If we figure out how to deal with them, we'll be going forth with a much more stable and sustainable district and there won't be this jarring, shock therapy process. I don't think this process belongs in education."