UTICA, Mich. -- Parents and school officials listens as a Facilities Study Team presents their recommendation for fixing the budget issues at Utica schools in a Monday night board meeting.

Weeks ago the district organized the facilities study team group, comprised of parents, business owners and community leaders to come up with recommendations to balance the budget.

The 22-member group has been meeting since December to look at the district's building usage.

In light of a $33 million budget shortfall the district faces next school year, the study team is recommending closing four elementary schools: Walsh, Ewell, Magahay and Rose Kidd.

Over a hundred parents, educators along with the board sat patiently as the group presented their findings. Of the district’s 29 elementary schools, the group proposes the board close four elementary schools: Ewell, Magahay, Rose Kidd and Walsh.

"I am very unhappy with their decision,” said one parent who has a child attending Walsh Elementary.

Joe Mayernik, a Utica business owner who co-chaired the Facilities Study Team, said they've been visiting schools and going through enrollment figures. He said the recommendations were based on a number of criteria, including enrollment, location and proximity to other schools.

Operating more than 40 schools and buildings, UCS is Michigan's second-largest school district behind Detroit Public Schools.

Watch: Board Recommends School Closure

The board will make a final decision before the end of the school year, district spokeswoman Hildy Corbett said.

At the last UCS Board of Education meeting, held Monday, more than 200 people were present, many of them upset over the board's plan to privatize custodial duties.

As many as 156 employees could lose their jobs, which the board predicts could save UCS as much as $4 million annually. The deadline for the bids is set for April 14 with the board's decision expected July 1.