Students At Classen SAS March To Capitol In Protest Of Budget Cuts

Students may be able live with a few more days of summer, but a loss of teachers and arts programs? Those are budget cuts that led to protests by students at one of Oklahoma City's most competitive schools. 

Students at Classen SAS said they were told they will lose nine teachers and several arts and advanced studies classes.  

Wednesday, many of those students left class and walked all the way to the Oklahoma state Capitol in protest of looming budget cuts.

5/18/2016 Related Story: Classen SAS Students, Parents March On State Capitol

Classes SAS is the only Oklahoma City Public School that received an A+ on the state report card. All the students have to apply and be accepted into the school.

Clare Jordan has been dreaming about going there since she was in the third grade.

But the cuts at Classen SAS would be deep. According to the school's PTA, half of the positions lost would be arts teachers.

“We’ve cut half the drama department and I’m a drama major,” said Clare. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

The school is also home to one of only two international baccalaureate programs (IB) [for advanced studies] in the state. All six IB areas could be impacted with several classed cancelled.

Students say if these cuts go through, they don't know what it will be like next year.

Clare said she may not wait to find out.  A performance Tuesday night could be her final curtain call. 

She's considering transferring to private school where state lawmakers won't have a leading role when it comes to her education.

Unfortunately, many students in the school and in the district won’t have that option.

Parents and students from Classen SAS met with School Superintendent Aurora Lora Wednesday evening.