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Wilkes-Barre Students Protest Program Cuts

WILKES-BARRE — Dozens of students met outside Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre Wednesday morning to demand school officials change their decision to c...
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WILKES-BARRE -- Dozens of students met outside Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre Wednesday morning to demand school officials change their decision to cut art and other programs.

The school board approved $4 million in cuts to help balance the budget Monday Night.

Current students from Coughlin and other city schools along with graduates gathered at Coughlin High School to protest those budget cuts. About 50 students held signs and stood together in front of the high school. They gathered at 8 a.m. to protest cuts to art and other programs.

At a meeting Monday night, the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board voted to slash $4 million from the budget. Those cuts include laying off about 40 teachers, suspending library services, and slashing art programs.

Many people who showed up at the board meeting felt their voices were not heard.

Students at the protest wanted to make sure school leaders listen up.

"I think it's very important for children to be able to express themselves," said Coughlin junior Mydia Alonso.

"It sucks that the school board, I believe, went in there knowing their answer and had their mind set on it and didn't listen to anything," said Coughlin junior Madison Blejwas.

Coughlin alumni also came by the protest to support students, some calling the administration's decisions poor judgement.

"They have to make choices that are smarter than this, like clearly kids care," said Coughlin graduate Nina Cinti.

Even some former teachers agree.

"The district is not communicating to the taxpayers where they could have saved money in other areas. I'm disappointed," said former math teacher John Zubris.

The district's curriculum director advised students to get into school before classes start at 8:20 a.m., or they'd be written up with an unexcused absence, but students wanted to send the administration a message, so they took their protest on the road, marching from Coughlin High School to the administration building, about a two-mile journey.

"Our school thought we were just going to stand outside for a few minutes then go to class and that's not what a protest is about," said student Emily Glycenfer. "We have to set the example for our siblings, for the rest of the kids of this area. We need to be the voice."

The Wilkes-Barre Area School District is deep in the red. There is a proposed property tax hike that would add $1.5 million to its coffers. But even if that passes, the district still will have to borrow $4 million to cover expenses for the next school year.

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