PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Philadelphia School District officials acknowledged to City Council the emotional uproar caused by the proposal to close nine public schools.

The School District is holding its own hearings on the closure plan but City Council wanted its own so they could ask the questions.

Councilman Bill Greenlee wanted to know what the affected parents should be doing.

“I’m just trying to figure out what would be the real issues that people need to really address during these hearings rather than just saying ‘I don’t want my school closed,’” Greenlee said.

Penny Nixon, Associate Superintendent of Schools, told Greenlee that parents should be looking at the quality of the academic program at what could become their child’s new school.

“We’re trying to offer something that’s equal to, or better. And I think parents need to know, what is that?” Nixon said.

The proposal is to close nine school buildings and reconfigure grades in 17 others to address underutilized buildings. There will be no final decisions from the SRC until next spring.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060