Students Rally Against Budget Cuts at Town Hall

Students gathered on the steps of Town Hall on May 4 to protest the proposed budget cuts. Photo by Ross Gordon '11

“I’m here personally because I want to show each Board member how much we really care. We are willing to really really fight…those extracurriculars really make the best school in Connecticut, whether it be sports or music or players.” – Jahari Dodd ’10

Alex Shmerzler '10 raises his guitar in protest as others raise their signs at the rally. Photo by Ross Gordon '11

“When we grow up, past high school, there’s one thing we need- experience. These cuts have to go. How else can we get the experience that we need?” – Jason Wiles ’10

Students of all ages joined the rally today to protest the budget cuts that will affect the entire district. Photo by Farrel Levenson '11

“Just the fact that we’re the number one school in the state- I don’t understand how [the RTM] can even thinking about cutting so much money out of the budget…our extracurriculars are what make Staples so special.” -Morgan Patrick ’10.

A picket sign reads "Restore the $1.4," a phrase that students began to chant throughout the rally. Photo by Stevie Klein '12. — A picket sign reads "Restore the $1.4," a phrase that students chanted throughout the rally. Photo by Stevie Klein '12.

“You don’t get the SHS skills from lousy elementary school….you don’t get the SHS sports teams from lousy elementary schools…They cannot cut these wonderful extracurriculars.” – Suzanne Prop, music teacher at Greens Farms Elementary School

Mikey McGovern '09 addresses the crowd of students. "We know that education doesn’t simply happen in the classroom," said McGovern in his speech. Photo by Lila Epstein '10

Thoughts or comments on the student rally? Share them below!