Angry parents and their children filled every seat, corner and exit of the John Stanford Center auditorium yesterday, appearing united against a preliminary proposal by Seattle Public Schools to close some schools.

They held picket signs. They wore T-shirts printed with their message. But it was hard to tell if the roughly 200 people there represented the views of the majority of families in the 46,000-student district, or just the schools proposed for closure in the fall of 2006.

"We are families, and families aren't meant to be broken," said Vishal Saraiya, president of the high-school student body at Summit K-12, one of the schools that could be eliminated. Many audience members gave the 18-year-old, flanked by about 20 Summit K-12 peers, a standing ovation.

Superintendent Raj Manhas, who is trying to deal with a $20 million budget shortfall in 2006-07, has proposed a sweeping plan to restructure the district that would mean the end, one way or another, for 10 schools: Summit K-12 alternative school and Alki, Cooper, Rainier View, M.L. King, Montlake, T.T. Minor, Daniel Bagley, North Beach and Whitworth elementaries.

"We have to look at every child in the whole school system, not just one particular area," Manhas told the crowd. "Thank you for your passion and commitment you've shown for public education."

Manhas and the School Board members sat quietly as 27 parents, one by one, lashed out at them. It was the first board meeting since the district announced possible closures.

"You guys are incompetent," said Mike Slade, a parent at McGilvra Elementary, which isn't targeted for closure. Slade said he has donated more than $300,000 of his money to McGilvra over the years and helped make it a success. The district's plan to close academically successful schools like Montlake Elementary makes no sense, he said.

Cesily McWashington Crowser, daughter of Ammon McWashington, the district's director of high schools, said a wonderful school consists of more than the size of its campus and how close it is to other schools — two of the criteria the district is using to target schools.

"We are everything you've asked a program to be and other programs to become," said Crowser, a Montlake parent. Later, she added, "I have lost my faith, trust and loyalty in Seattle Public Schools."

James Flynn, a Summit K-12 graduate and son of School Board member Darlene Flynn, also spoke against closing his former school. "Summit is that small high-school environment you're trying to create," Flynn said. "I know you have a hard choice to make, and I wouldn't want to make it, but I want you to know Summit K-12 has a unique place in Seattle."

Several parents expressed shock over the district's failure to earlier explore alternatives with the community. But one year ago, the district held an all-day town meeting to gather ideas on how to raise student achievement and avoid closing schools to stabilize the district's finances.

About 125 people showed up for that meeting, district spokeswoman Patti Spencer-Watkins said.

Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com