Boston Public School Students Walk Out Of Class To Protest Budget Cuts

BOSTON (CBS) -- Thousands of Boston Public School students walked out of class late Monday morning to protest millions of dollars in proposed budget cuts.

The planned walkout, which is part of a nationwide protest against school budget cuts, started at 11:30 a.m. A letter was sent out to parents before the walkout, discouraging students from participating in it.

It began outside of the State House, moved across the street to Boston Common and then returned to the State House shortly after noon.

Students from John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science were among those protesting, as one student could be seen holding up a sign saying "You can't stop our education."

Tatyana Fonseca, a senior at Boston Latin Academy, says, "I'm trying to make sure the kids that come after us have the same opportunities that I had."

"They're trying to cut our AP classes, our special needs programs, and we actually care about these things," said student protester Jardel Fernandes. "We care about our future and we care about our kids' future.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh had mixed emotions about the large-scale protest.

"I would much prefer the students not march, walking out of school," he told WBZ. "I think they should stay in school, but the fact that it's happened and they've done it, I commend them for their advocacy."

The mayor says there is still much work to be done, adding that there has been a large increase to the school budget this year. He says the city is working to close the budgetary gap between public and charter schools.

A budget meeting was expected to take place at The English High School in Jamaica Plain on Monday night.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

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