Shelton students stage sit-in

Shelton, Conn. (WTNH) - Police responded to Shelton High School today after students refused to return to class as they voiced their concerns about school budget cuts.

Students tell News Channel 8 that they wanted to get their point across.

"We were just trying to help the teachers out and they are the ones calling police. That's messed up," said freshman Ivan Carabali.

The school principal moved the sit-in to the school auditorium so they could have an open discussion. But then about 100 students walked out of the building and that's when the principal called police to help get the students back into class.

Student organizers say they were threatened.

"They said if we don't go in we were going to get tazed and arrested so I went inside," Ivan said.

Police say they did not pull out any tazers or guns, no one was threatened and no one was arrested.

"Certainly they reminded them to go back in class or face disciplinary consequences," said Headmaster Beth Smith.

Shelton may have to lay off as many as 150 Board of Education employees and possibly close a school.