High school students protest budget cuts

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - We've heard from New Haven teachers unions and police unions, and now students are ready to stage a protest against budget cuts.

When city budget cuts meant layoffs in the police department, cops marched on city hall. Now, New Haven's belt tightening means cutting staff at schools, so today students are going to march on City Hall.

At 1:45 this afternoon, students at Wilbur Cross High School are going to gather at the park next door and then march all the way downtown.

They say the budget cuts will cause layoffs of 60 teachers, 20 pre-school teachers and 110 other school staff, and that is on top of cuts to the janitorial and cafeteria staff.

Mayor John DeStefano has said he is not going to raise taxes, and instead is going to balance the city's budget with cuts alone.

Students don't have an issue with that, but students and teachers have made a point of going to meetings to point out that the city spends a million dollars on administration, and far less on academic materials for high school students.

They plan to rally in front of City Hall until 5:30 p.m.