Nearly a dozen students from both Spring Valley and Ramapo high schools felt so strongly about rumors saying teachers, sports and extra-curricular activities were being cut that they showed up at yesterday’s school board meeting to protest.

One by one, the teens stepped up to the podium to say how important things outside of the core curriculum was to them and to their future.

East Ramapo’s $193.4 million was defeated by voters on Tuesday by a nearly three to one margin. The board is debating  how to address the defeat—but the rumors were ahead of the curve.

“I came here to talk about the things I enjoy about Spring Valley High School,” said Alex Moore, who made a pitch for keeping extra-curricular activities. “These activities are the bread and butter of who I have become.”

“The rumor is there will be less teachers and that sports teams are being cut,” said Mayerline Louis-Juste, a junior at Ramapo High School. “Our sports, our teachers are very important to us. When you have budget cuts, we feel like the students are losing an education. I feel we should be getting more teachers to have more diversity in our school so we can learn more.”

School board president Nathan Rothschild assured the students that rumors of program and staff eliminations are just rumors and the school board has not decided how to address the failed budget.

He did, however,  praise the teens for their passion and their eloquence, telling them that they are convincing spokesmen and spokeswomen for their cause. Hearing from students, he said, just cements the board’s decision that whatever is done to get a budget for next year, the last thing that will be cut are programs that help students.