By Heather Murtagh
Erik Oeverndiek/Daily Journal
Sam Johnson, superintendent of the San Mateo Union High School District, talks to students during a walkout Thursday morning. Johnson tried to explain the district's budget situation to the students.
Hundreds of high school students from at least three schools stormed the San Mateo Union High School District offices Thursday morning to protest teachers layoffs, which were approved by the school board later that evening.
Superintendent Sam Johnson was surrounded by students from Aragon, San Mateo and Burlingame high schools demanding answers Thursday morning. The school board was set to make $3.5 million in budget cuts later in the day students came concerned about the impact of these cuts.
How are we supposed to succeed without our teachers?? asked San Mateo junior Jackie Pollard. The 16-year-old was one of the many students who felt compelled to visit the district office in an attempt to get answers.
Students yelled out questions at Sam such as, Why would you hire teachers you can't afford?,? Why should we have to suffer when it's the district's fault?,? and Can't there be some more creative solutions?? Students were distressed by rumors that sports, prom and clubs were also going to be cut.
Johnson assured students many of their questions were fueled by misinformation. Student activities like sports and prom were not on the cut list.
Teachers began cutting off voluntary activities such as extra help for students, club supervision and locking their classroom doors during lunch last week as a protest to the choice of a salary cut or losing colleagues. Teachers chose to stop participating in such events, the district did not have a say in those activities, said Johnson.
Students learned of the walkout through a flier circulated at the various high schools. The same flier gave administrators and parents a heads up of the potential walk out. District parents received a pre-recorded phone message from Johnson Wednesday night urging them to encourage students to voice their concerns on campus at lunchtime, said Associate Superintendent Ethel Konopka.
Many students chose to walk out despite the message.
Burlingame High School senior Joanne Heckenberg wasn't sure the walkout would take place until she heard about it in third period. She decided to leave school at 11 a.m. to take a stand for her teachers.
Senior Kyle Bou was one of about 50 students who left Aragon High School at 9:30 a.m. and walked to the district office.
It's unfair that the teachers will be laid off for someone else's mistake,? he said.
San Mateo sophomore Allison Mazella originally decided to walk out to protest athletic cuts. When she learned of the looming loss of teachers she felt more inspiration to leave class.
Erik Oeverndiek/Daily Journal
Sam Johnson, superintendent of the San Mateo Union High School District, talks to students during a walkout Thursday morning. Johnson tried to explain the district's budget situation to the students.
Hundreds of high school students from at least three schools stormed the San Mateo Union High School District offices Thursday morning to protest teachers layoffs, which were approved by the school board later that evening.
Superintendent Sam Johnson was surrounded by students from Aragon, San Mateo and Burlingame high schools demanding answers Thursday morning. The school board was set to make $3.5 million in budget cuts later in the day students came concerned about the impact of these cuts.
How are we supposed to succeed without our teachers?? asked San Mateo junior Jackie Pollard. The 16-year-old was one of the many students who felt compelled to visit the district office in an attempt to get answers.
Students yelled out questions at Sam such as, Why would you hire teachers you can't afford?,? Why should we have to suffer when it's the district's fault?,? and Can't there be some more creative solutions?? Students were distressed by rumors that sports, prom and clubs were also going to be cut.
Johnson assured students many of their questions were fueled by misinformation. Student activities like sports and prom were not on the cut list.
Teachers began cutting off voluntary activities such as extra help for students, club supervision and locking their classroom doors during lunch last week as a protest to the choice of a salary cut or losing colleagues. Teachers chose to stop participating in such events, the district did not have a say in those activities, said Johnson.
Students learned of the walkout through a flier circulated at the various high schools. The same flier gave administrators and parents a heads up of the potential walk out. District parents received a pre-recorded phone message from Johnson Wednesday night urging them to encourage students to voice their concerns on campus at lunchtime, said Associate Superintendent Ethel Konopka.
Many students chose to walk out despite the message.
Burlingame High School senior Joanne Heckenberg wasn't sure the walkout would take place until she heard about it in third period. She decided to leave school at 11 a.m. to take a stand for her teachers.
Senior Kyle Bou was one of about 50 students who left Aragon High School at 9:30 a.m. and walked to the district office.
It's unfair that the teachers will be laid off for someone else's mistake,? he said.
San Mateo sophomore Allison Mazella originally decided to walk out to protest athletic cuts. When she learned of the looming loss of teachers she felt more inspiration to leave class.
- Written by Jen
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