BRISTOL, Vt. (WCAX) – After two failed budget votes, Mount Abraham Unified School District middle school students gathered at the Bristol Green holding signs in support of the newest proposed budget, and who it will impact.
“It’s really important to do this because the teachers have really changed all of our lives and really made a difference,” said 8th grader Anika Morton.
“We think this really affects everyone and not just the teachers, it affects the students and basically just everyone here,” said 8th grader Ada Thomas.
“Things are turbulent now, and what we need is solidarity, and that’s what we can find in our teachers. So losing them is really heartbreaking,” said 8th grader Trinity Croft.
The demonstration comes as several school budgets are back in front of voters this week. Vermonters in at least 10 school districts or supervisory unions will hit the polls for a second time Tuesday.
From Rutland to the Champlain Islands, school officials are hoping voters will approve a second attempt at school budgets after cuts across the board. At least one district, the Addison Northwest School District, will vote a third time tomorrow.
A meeting tomorrow for the Mount Abe school district will decide the price of the third budget and a date for the school’s next revote. The first vote on a more than $37 million budget failed by 228 votes, and the second vote on a more than $35 million budget failed by 57 votes.
Students say they want to protect their teachers from potential layoffs and curriculum cuts.
“Some students don’t have people at home that they feel supported or trusted by,” said 8th grader Tinsae Deas.
“Most of the teachers that got cut were my favorite teachers so I thought we should be here today for them to support them,” said 8th grader Sloane Grzyb
“They work so hard and they put up with us every day, so I don’t think it’s really fair,” said 8th grader Mabinti Bangoura.
If a budget is not approved by the end of June, the district would have to revert to the previous year’s budget, meaning $3 million in reductions.