Fort Bend ISD students rally for their teachers after layoffs 

KHOU Channel 11 - Students in Fort Bend ISD took to the streets Wednesday afternoon demanding that "no teacher be left behind" because of budget cuts.
The district has already eliminated about 300 teacher positions.　


Students began the day with a rally in school to support their teachers. They said hundreds of students showed up, and that administrators at the school supported their cause.
"There will be an estimated 38 to 40 kids in each class next year," said Kieran Bhatia, a Clements High student. "I value my education. We all value our education. We all want smaller class sizes so we can perform better."
After school, the students took to the streets, first walking down Elkin, then along Sweetwater Blvd.　 They held signs that read "Honk for Education," and shouted, "Save our Teachers."
"About 29 teachers have been cut from Clements High School," explained Nishil Shah, a Clements High student who helped organize the protest. "Additionally, at the local middle school, there is one autistic kid who is going to be unable to get the expert guidance that he needs from specialized teachers."
School districts around the state have been making tough choices due to an expected $10 billion shortfall in funding from the state. It has caused many local districts to lay off teachers and administrators.　
Last week, hundreds of Katy ISD students walked out of school to protest the layoffs in their district.
As for Fort Bend ISD, this may not be the end of education layoffs. Anthony Lacsamana, a spokesperson for the Fort Bend Employee Federation, said he expects another 80 to 100 non-teaching staff positions to be eliminated in the next month or two.