Mount Vernon parents are trying to fight back against a possible plan to close three schools.

It's a stressful time for Mount Vernon parents like Erica Peterson.

"We are all tired. It's the holiday season, we have inflation going on and now we have to worry about our child's school closing," says Erica Peterson.

Not only does she have kids of her own. She also leads the Mount Vernon High School Parent Teacher Association. The biggest issue they're trying to tackle right now is what's going to happen if three schools within the district close.

The ones on the potential list are Cecil H. Parker School, Mount Vernon Honor Academy and Mount Vernon Leadership Academy.

"The fiscal challenges we face are severe and we are at a moment in time that if we do not address them, it will have catastrophic consequences for our district," said Dr. K. Veronica Smith, the acting superintendent of Mount Vernon City School District during a previous meeting.

Leaders with the district say enrollment is down and the cost for needed repairs at some of their schools is high. That's why they're talking about reconfiguring the grades in some of the buildings.

But many parents like Peterson hope they don't.

"That not only impacts the city, it impacts our families, it impacts our homeowners," Peterson explains.

Leaders with the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers tell News 12, it could also take a toll on the staff.

"There is a strong possibility of staff reduction so of course, that makes our staff feel very uneasy," says Keith McCall, who is the president of the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers.

District leaders previously said this hasn't been an easy conversation and they have not made a decision yet. But they need to by March.

In the meantime, Peterson says they're taking their concerns above the school board and the district.

"We've reached out to the New York state Department of Education, News 12 reached out to the state Comptroller's Office because we need help," says Peterson.

As of Tuesday, no date had been set for when the school board could make a final decision.

You can read more about the district's potential options here.