HAMBURG, N.Y. — Frustration, anger, and disappointment are a few words that Hamburg high school and middle school students shared during a planned walkout over recent teacher layoffs Thursday.
Hundreds who participated in the demonstration carried signs and chanted: "What do we want? Teachers! When do we want 'em?" Now!"
The show of support was for the 17 staff members being laid off and seven retirees who will not be replaced.
"It makes me really mad and upset," seventh-grader John Ely said.
Added 10th grader Tessa Ely: "It's just like really upsetting. You see teachers with tears in their eyes almost every single day now."
Staff in the school building could be seen from the street cheering on students who walked in support and ultimately ended up gathered on the football field.
In a written statement, the Hamburg Teachers' Association (HTA) has said it is "saddened, disappointed, and frustrated by the district's decision," adding that it stands in "staunch opposition" to the cuts much like many parents.
The union has declined several interview requests from 2 On Your Side.
Parents who attended the protest echoed the emotions of students including Mallory Russo-Gang, who has a freshman student in the district.
"We haven't heard a lot and that's what the issue is and that's why our kids are here today both from Hamburg Middle School and Hamburg High School. They really came together to get those answers that we are looking for," Russo-Gang said.
Thursday's demonstration comes after a packed school board meeting Tuesday where district officials and elected board members attempted to address the reason for the cuts and lay out the details.
The full list of cuts was shared during a presentation:
- English - 2 teachers
- Business - 1 teacher
- Math - 2 teachers
- Science - 2 teachers
- Social Studies - 3 teachers
- LOTE Spanish - 1 teacher
- LOTE Latin - 1 teacher
- Health (elementary) - 1 teacher
- Teacher aide - 2 teacher aides
- Computer aide - 1 computer aide
- Maintenance - 1 maintenance mechanic
Multiple part-time positions were also listed as "not returning" for the 2024/2025 school year:
- Art - Teacher, Hamburg Middle School
- Clerical - 19hrs/week, District ]
- Clerical - 20hrs/week, Hamburg High School
Hamburg School District Superintendent Michael Cornell and several board members were sympathetic to the concerns and emotions of the public Tuesday night, but they were short on answers in the eyes of those looking for more clarity.
"We feel awful. The last thing we want to do in the world is lay off a single teacher," Superintendent Cornell said.
The layoffs have been tied to financial challenges in the Hamburg district that in part arise from "budgeting errors" in recent years that Cornell told 2 On Your Side that he and the district were unaware of until last spring.
Those "errors," Cornell has said, are wrapped up in a personnel matter that limits what he and the district can say.
Some parents have linked the district's financial troubles to the controversial departure of former assistant superintendent of finance Barbara Sporyz, who the district had planned to file disciplinary charges against.
Sporyz parted ways with the district in June 2023 as part of a separation agreement. That agreement is bound by a non-disparagement agreement legally limiting what anyone involved can say.
The agreement has resulted in calls for transparency from parents such as Christine Shafer.
"They made a mistake they're not owning up to it, there is no transparency and our kids and our teachers are going to suffer for it," Shafer said.
The staff cuts, according to Superintendent Cornell, will result in no program cuts at the middle and high schools.
Five teachers who are performing other duties in the district will also return to the classroom, Cornell said. He added that other cuts to non-staff expenses, including a few administrative positions and other non-classroom positions were made to this year's budget.
"I am hoping that the district can come together and do some creative financing and some creative problem solving so we don't have to face these cuts," Russo-Gang said.
Cornell doesn't believe anything can be done to save the positions, although Russo-Gang said she is hopeful that state lawmakers could fight for more money to help the district during state budget season.