BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Public School District has confirmed to 7 News that the school closure committee has recommended the closure of D’Youville Porter Campus School PS 3 and Early Childhood Center PS 90.

The district said it is important to note that the Buffalo Board of Education has taken no action on the recommendations, and no decision has been made about the closure of these two schools.

WATCH: Committee recommends closure of 2 Buffalo Public Schools

Committee recommends closure of 2 Buffalo Public Schools

You can read the district’s full statement below:

“The school closure committee has recommended to Superintendent Mubenga and the Board of Education the closure of D’Youville Porter Campus School PS 3 and Early Childhood Center PS 90. It’s important to stress that the Board of Education has taken no action on the recommendations, and no decision has been made about the closure of these two schools. Unfortunately, two members of the school closure committee chose to share the committee’s recommendations with a local news outlet before the superintendent had an opportunity to thoroughly review the recommendations and before the school communities potentially affected were notified. This action does not respect the school communities potentially impacted, the established process, or the important work of the closure committee. Out of respect for our students, families, and staff, the district will not comment further at this time.”

Two members of the school closure committee explained to 7 News their thoughts about the schools that were recommended.

“For myself, School 90 seemed to be the easiest, because it had the least amount of students, and it was struggling,” committee member Edward Speidel said. “I want to get out to the public that we tried our best.”

The recommendation of PS 3 for closure has sparked debate between the members of the committee.

“School 3, when I did the research, had the lowest school attendance of all grammar schools, minus School 84. School 84 has the mentally fragile students, so of course, they’re going to have more difficulty with attendance,” Speidel said. “School 3 was in [academic] ‘red’ standing, and when we checked the state website, they didn’t improve last year; they went backwards.”

The shock of yesterday’s committee vote has not worn off.

The committee established clear criteria, aligned with the community’s list of priorities and state requirements for evaluating school closures. The vote to close School 90 was intentional and deliberate. It’s a decision I can stand by as a committee member. That is untrue for School 3.

School 3 was never discussed by the full committee during deliberations and only became a top contender for closure based on opaque politicking over the weekend.

This undermines the integrity of our work and puts more than 500 students, nearly 80% from the Hispanic/Latino community, at risk of unnecessary displacement.

There are no good choices in this process, but closing School 3 is a very bad decision.

Harper Bishop, member of the School Closure Committee

“We have six bilingual schools. Most of the schools in Buffalo are about 52-53% full, so there’s room for those kids to go to five other schools,” Speidel said. “The whole thing was to give them a better chance at a real education.”

The potential closure of two schools is part of an initiative to create “sustainable and high-quality” learning environments while expanding access to specialized programs.

Dozens of students, educators, parents and community members attended a public meeting to voice their concerns about the potential closures earlier this month. The district surveyed Buffalo families in November, receiving about 1,800 entries. Dr. Sharon Brown, BPS Chief of Student Support Services, presented those survey results at the meeting.

Jim Barnes, Chief Financial Officer for BPS, emphasized the financial necessity behind the closures. Barnes explained that if the district fails to act, it would run very low on cash. The district is currently running an $80 million deficit.

WATCH: BPS moves forward with plan to potentially close two schools

BPS moves forward with plan to potentially close two schools