Students across NYC walk out to urge Mayor Adams to stop school budget cuts

Students say thousands of their fellow public school peers have suffered through the pandemic and other budget cuts, and that more cuts will harm their educational journey even more.

News 12 Staff

Jan 12, 2023, 10:44 PM

Updated 561 days ago

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New York City students walked out of their classrooms on Thursday to urge Mayor Eric Adams not to make any more budget cuts to public schools.  
The protest comes as the budget Mayor Eric Adams released on Thursday saw the Department of Education's budget trimmed down.
“Now is not the time for the Adams administration to cut the schools budget,” said Judah Firestone-Morrill, student member of the BHSEC Advocacy Club at Bard High School. “It is imperative that funding remains at its pre-pandemic budget to reinvigorate students to find passion again in their learning and offset the harms posted by COVID-19 to their education.” 
Mayor Eric Adams unveiled his proposed budget minutes after the protest. 
As this unfolded, students say they are worried about the state of their education. 
It's all a part of the mayor's $102.7 billion vision for the city's next budget.
Adams says his top priorities are affordable housing, street cleanliness, public safety and investing into schools citywide.
“In DOE schools across the city, the city will invest in the safety measures of students and staff,” said Adams. “Every student deserves to feel safe at school and this budget is making it happen.”
Adams met with city council members to discuss budget details. Council Member Charles Barron says there needs to be more transparency.
"How do you present a preliminary budget to the council and don't show us the budget. He made a five-minute generalization and then councilmembers are asking him questions about a budget they didn't see," he said.
Many students say further cuts would only damage schools as students still adjust to post-COVID pandemic times.
News 12 reached out to the Department of Education, but has not heard back. 


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