ARVADA, Colo. -- Parents and city council members in Jefferson County claim the school district is unfairly targeting low-income schools for closure to shore up a $20 million budget shortfall.

Wednesday night, the school district held the last of four meetings meant to garner public opinion on 45 proposals that would restructure and potentially close some elementary and middle schools.

Most of the schools up for closure in Arvada are in a low-income area dotted with Section Eight housing.

"The poor get poorer. The rich get richer," said Aimee McMurtry, whose son attends Russell Elementary in Arvada.

"If you look at the number of section eight housing and where it falls on a map, and you overlay a map of the schools and where they're proposing to be cut, there's a pretty strong correlation," said city council member Rachel Zenzinger.

Zenzinger said she does not believe the district intentionally targeted low-income schools.

"My gut feeling is that the school district is in a very difficult position because this is a funding crisis," she said.

School officials said the schools were chosen based on low test scores, low enrollment and the condition of the buildings.

"There's no intent to target schools that have high poverty," said Superintendent Cindy Stevenson.

Stevenson said the school board would include concerns about targeting low-income communities in its discussion about what changes to make.

The school board is expected to make a final decision about where to cut the budget in January. Stevenson said it is too early to tell whether the changes will include school closures.