Hundreds of Hamburg students walk out of school in protest of teacher layoffs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Hundreds of Hamburg students walked out of school Thursday morning to protest recent staff layoffs that affected 16 teachers and aides within the district.

Students from Hamburg High School began the walkout just before 11:30 a.m., marching from the school building, across Legion Drive and to the district's football field. Hamburg Middle School students eventually joined in on the protest.

Students could be heard chanting "We want teachers."

“In Hamburg we emphasize a culture of kindness and respect.  Built into that is a respect for student voice.  We are proud of them for expressing how they feel about their teachers," Hamburg superintendent Michael Cornell said in a statement regarding the protest.

The Hamburg district said federal COVID relief and its cash reserves were previously used to support staffing, but that money has since dried up, resulting in the layoffs. Cornell also confirmed Tuesday the district will not fill the positions of seven teachers who will be retiring, leading to 23 empty positions total by next year.

Parents, students and members of the teachers' union packed a Tuesday school board meeting, where Cornell addressed concerns regarding the layoffs.