To do this during Teacher Appreciation Week is disregarding all that our school community has given the young people of Newbury and sends the message to us our educational experience really doesn’t matter to them. – Student statement
In response to Newbury Schools Board of Education cutting 14 staff members during its May 6 board meeting citing decreased student enrollment and financial burdens, Newbury Junior/Senior High School students held a walk out Friday afternoon as a peaceful protest.
Students issued the following statement regarding their decision:
“Today, at 2:25 p.m., Newbury High School students walked out of school to stand in honor of our teachers, staff and coaches. We value the education they have brought us and appreciate all the time and dedication we have received by them through the years. They are inspiration to all of us!
We chose to walk out today as the Newbury (Schools) Board of Education chose to reduce staff and table voting for all coaches at their meeting on Monday night. To do this during Teacher Appreciation Week is disregarding all that our school community has given the young people of Newbury and sends the message to us our educational experience really doesn’t matter to them.
The students at Newbury have put up with a rollercoaster ride the last two years and we wanted our voices to be heard by our quiet stand outside our amazing educational building for 30 minutes. The building is full of family to each one of the students that go to school here. We want our sports, our teachers and our small school to stay. Newbury Student Lives Matter.
We <3 our teachers. We <3 our coaches. Black Knight Lives Matter. We <3 our staff and sports. We need ALL our teachers. We Stand 4 Newbury. Black Knight Pride Forever. We <3 you, staff and teachers! Thank you!”
Newbury school board’s reduction in force will save the district $700,000, Treasurer Sarah Palm said during the board meeting last week. See related story for more details.
