PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Public Schools approved a resolution Monday to bring changes to the district's high school system.

It's the first formal step to making a high school reorganization plan a reality. District officials believe the plan, which may close up to three schools, will narrow the achievement gap between white and minority students. They also expect it will help deal with declining revenue.

Portland Public Schools currently have nine neighborhood comprehensive high schools. The available courses at those schools vary because of differing enrollment figures. Because funding is based on enrollment, students at the smaller schools have less access to programs than students at larger schools.

In order to provide students equal access to curriculum, the district wants to decrease the number of comprehensive schools by as many as three to level enrollment across the board.

District officials said they would then use the vacant schools as focus schools. They have not selected which schools they're targeting for focus schools.

Maggie Mashia, a concerned parent, fears closing Jefferson High School would have a significant negative impact.

"The closure of Jefferson High School would not only displace the students, but it would also displace population in our community that sees Jefferson as part of the culture and part of their heritage in the city of Portland," Mashia said.

The school board voted 5-2 on Monday night in favor of the approving the resolution.

Superintendent Carole Smith will now develop a proposal within 45 days that would provide specific recommendations on the future of the high school system.

The proposed changes would begin to be implemented in 2011.

Portland Public Schools has more information about the proposed high school redesign on its Web site.

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