When two Cambridge elementary schools were threatened with closure four months ago, parents flocked to school committee meetings in busloads, protesting with signs and giving tearful testimony in front of the Cambridge School Committee.

Now, many of the same parents are back and are planning to picket in front of the Thorndike Street offices of the city’s public schools this morning to protest the latest in a series of consolidation plans aimed at coping with declining enrollments and a budget deficit of $3.8 million.

However, despite the image that today’s protest might at first convey, the new plan has gained more acceptance among both parents and school committee members than any previous proposal and is expected to pass in a school committee vote next week.

Although the new plan proposes more drastic measures than most previous proposals, the community has warmed to the proposal because of pressing financial difficulties, a change in district leadership and the plan’s potential benefits.

The proposal, which affects more schools than most previous plans, was unveiled March 18, and if approved will take effect this fall.

The plan—which would close two elementary schools and move five others—is designed both to save money and improve the city’s school system, which is facing low Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) scores and major achievement gaps among low-income and minority students.

“In addition to solving the immediate financial problems, the plan more importantly moves the system towards improved socio-economic status (SES) balance and puts in place measures which will lead to the narrowing of the achievement gap and improve the education of all of our elementary students,” the plan reads.

If adopted, the Harrington and Fitzgerald Schools would close and the King Open and Peabody Schools would move into their buildings, respectively.

The Longfellow School, including its Intensive Studies Program, would relocate to the Kennedy School, and the Graham and Parks School would move to the vacated Peabody School building. The Amigos School would move to the King Open School’s space.

Parents have taken what many say has been a calmer approach to the plan.

“There was more understanding,” says Graham and Parks School parent Owen Andrews. “I think the plan is never going to get more than grudging acceptance from anybody but that’s better than what was going on before.”

Faced with a growing deficit and proposed budget that would cut school resources, the threat of slashing needed funds has made both parents and school committee members more willing to compromise.

“Something has to give this year or too many schools will be stripped,” says Amigos School parent Marla Erlien. “It’s just so late now.”

The school system’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2003-2004—which will come to a vote in May—would cut over $2 million from elementary schools alone if no schools close.

“To me the financial situation is serious enough that I’ve said my policy of being 90 or 95 percent in favor of a policy before I vote for it is not in order here,” says committee member Alfred B. Fantini, who says he supports the plan. Other parents and committee members say the change in leadership has contributed to the more favorable response to the plan.