From The Austin American-Statesman: Hundreds of people in the Austin (Texas) School District greeted a task force with anger, tears and pleas at a public meeting to discuss a list of preliminary options for making the district more efficient, including closing nine schools. The 72-member task force has put forth a proposal to close Barton Hills, Brooke, Joslin, Oak Springs, Ortega, Pease, Sanchez and Zilker elementary schools and Pearce Middle School.