CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Parents in Cortland are speaking out after a vote to shutter two elementary schools.

The district voted to shut down Virgil and Parker elementary schools in July 2019 after a study showed that consolidating schools was the best option due to a drop in enrollment.

The new system places kindergarten through second grade at Barry Elementary, third and fourth grades at Smith Elementary, and fifth and sixth grades at Randall Elementary.

One parent says the change impacts many things for her daughter, including bus rides.

"She's looking at getting up earlier to get on the bus and have a long bus ride. It takes me over 20 minutes to get from my house to the Smith school a day. I only can imagine doubling or tripling that time for buses,” said Arielle Brown, a Virgil resident.

Parents are currently circulating a petition. They are hoping to get at least 2,000 signatures to help overturn the decision.