Central Islip students protest cuts

Hundreds of Central Islip students walked out of Ralph G. Reed Middle School Friday morning to protest budget cuts and teacher layoffs.

The participants -- who will be suspended for a day for leaving campus without permission -- marched nearly a mile and picketed across from the early childhood center, which also houses the district's administrative offices, chanting and pleading for their teachers to be spared.

Galvanized by Facebook postings, the students gathered in the school's auditorium before heading off to the district's high school and early childhood center, pressing homemade signs against the windows at each stop.

Superintendent Craig Carr said he supports students' rights but could not condone their actions. "This was inappropriate."

Autem Pike, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, was credited by her classmates with organizing the protest. She said she was upset about the potential loss of a beloved math teacher who has helped her improve her grades.

"Before, when my teachers tried to teach me math, it didn't make sense," she said. "But she would stop the whole class just to teach me and make sure I understood it."

Justin Ballesteros, 13 and in seventh grade, said some of his favorite teachers could be let go because of budget cuts.

"I feel so bad for them," he said. "Some of them were crying and it really touched my heart."

Robert Molinaro, president of the district's teachers association, said he was unaware of the protest until it happened, adding that he would not support students leaving the building.

"While we appreciate their concerns and beliefs about the quality of their education, we don't want to see anyone get hurt or endanger themselves," he said.

Central Islip, which has a $171-million budget, was to lose $5.7 million in state aid and lay off 154 teachers. Carr said some state funding was restored, but he's not sure how much and it's unclear how many jobs could be saved.

The district, which serves 6,300 students, also considered cutting all sports programs, though that might not happen now, he said.

Jimmy Rodriguez, 14 and in the eighth grade, sings in the school chorus and plays football. He said he wants state legislators to take note of what is being lost.

"I want the government to appreciate that we care about our education and our sports and that we don't want to lose them," he said.

Carr said Central Islip has been enduring cuts for years. It let go of 60 teachers last year and cut all junior varsity sports. Kindergarten went to a half-day and the alternative high school was cut.

"That is why the children are so concerned," Carr said. "We cannot withstand this kind of reduction on top of what we already lost."