PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Public Schools families urged district leaders to reconsider proposed school closures during a public comment hearing Tuesday, as officials outlined plans that could affect either 14 schools or 11. Before the meeting, members of the Portland Association of Teachers rallied with families and promoted a petition asking the district to redraw school boundaries as an alternative to closures. The petition had gathered nearly 3,600 signatures, according to the union. For parent Nadia Estrada, the proposals put her son’s new school community at risk. She said she recently enrolled him at Sellwood Middle School after years of homeschooling, only to learn he might not be able to attend next year. Estrada described the school staff as compassionate and said they helped her son feel safe as he adjusted to attending school in person. Losing that connection would be devastating, she said, adding that a neighborhood public school can give children both an education and a sense of belonging. Alicia Chavez, president of the Portland Association of Teachers, said families were reacting to multiple possible plans and the wider changes they could bring. Boundary adjustments and program changes could affect students across the district, she said. Parent Jackie Wirz argued that school closures can harm students who already face disadvantages and called for more time to work together on alternatives. The district is expected to make a final decision on potential closures in December. Until then, families and educators are pressing leaders to weigh the effects on students and communities, as well as the district’s reasons for considering the plans.