Hamburg, N.Y. (WBEN) - Students at Hamburg High School and Middle School took part in a mass walkout from the classroom on Thursday in protest of pending layoffs of teachers and faculty across the district.
The protest at Hamburg High School started around 11:20 a.m. ET, as students made their way out of their fifth period classes. Students exited their classrooms and walked out to the front of the school. Over the course of a 20-30-minute period, the protest eventually made its way to the football field across the street from the school along Legion Drive.
Students say word about the protest Thursday got around social media pretty fast.
"Everybody's feeling these emotions, and everybody sounded pretty strong about them. And so we all got together as a school community, and just showed what it's all about, and how we're all feeling," said Hamburg student government president Abby Nikiel in an interview with WBEN.
"Social media had a big part, like Snapchat and Instagram, and parents on Facebook and everything like that. Someone created the initial post, and then it kind of just took fire," added Hamburg student Allie during "Bellavia" on WBEN. "Everybody was making signs, and everyone was ready to walk out at 11:20 a.m. today."
Allie estimates around 90% of the students at the high school took part in Thursday's walkout.
According to Chris Graham, editor of The Hamburg Sun, students were heard chanting phrases like "Get them back!" and "Save our teachers!", while also directing, at least, one explicit chant toward Hamburg Central School District Superintendent Michael Cornell.
Graham adds students were also joined by a number of parents of the Hamburg School District at points during the protest outside. He and students also say the teachers were aware of the planned walkout, and gave the OK for students to take part in the protest.
"A lot of them were just neutral about it. They have been told and notified about it, so many of them were aware. And they were all understandable about our own opinions, how we were going to act on it, and what we were going to do," Nikiel said.
These layoffs coming for teachers and staff at the Hamburg district are having a direct impact on students at every school and grade level.
"I've had a couple, one I have right now, and she's one of my favorites. Within the past couple of weeks that I've had her, she's already taught me a lot," Nikiel said.
"My English teacher is being laid off, and she is not going to be teaching after this, because this is her second time being cut. I have a really good relationship with her," added Allie. "My English teachers, they recommend me to all types of stuff, and they really helped me out with class. They get our class to engage, so it's really sad they decided to cut her. And one of the science teachers is being moved down to the middle school."
A spokesperson from the district also says they were aware of Thursday's planned walkout, and were in support of the students' movement. Superintendent Cornell also issued the following statement to WBEN in light of the student walkouts at the middle and high school:
"In Hamburg, we emphasize a culture of kindness and respect. Built into that is a respect for student voice. We are proud of them for expressing how they feel about their teachers."
With many in Hamburg aware of the protest taking place with students on Thursday, members of the village police department were on-hand to direct any traffic and monitor closely.
The walkout comes following a contentious school board meeting at Armor Elementary on Tuesday, where several parents and students voiced their concerns over the impending layoffs at the end of the school year.
In total, around 20 teachers and faculty members will lose their jobs as the result of budgetary issues the district is facing.
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Do the students feel there will be more planned walkouts as the school year nears its end? While nothing is planned in the immediate future, it's something that is not entirely out of question.
"I think that everyone's pretty confident this showed how we're all feeling, and showed our support and got the word through," Nikiel expressed.
"I do know Mr. Cornell did show up to the middle school. I think we got our message out, because we were screaming a little bit of a directed message towards Mr. Cornell, and the news was there and the news saw it. So we're guessing Mr. Cornell got the message and showed up to the middle school," Allie added.
"I think if Cornell handles it appropriately and figures out how to not lay off 20-plus teachers, it might be a one time thing. But knowing Hamburg and knowing Hamburg students, and knowing how proud they are about their schools and how much we love our teachers, it's probably not going to be a one-time thing if Cornell does not fix what he's done."