Occupy Utica Schools

Students came out today to protest cuts made to their school district and the big question is, where did all the money go? Proctor freshman Jordan Sainsbury says, "I play hockey, I've been playing my whole life so since hockey got cut it's kind of disappointing, so basically I'm just here to see if we can get someone's attention so they can help us get money back to get sports and all the teachers back." Notre Dame Student added, "I see all my friends they're very disappointed with what's going on and all these good teachers being cut and all these good sports are being lost. So I wanted to support my friends 100% even though I don't attend to Proctor High School"

On the first day of their spring break when students normally have fun or maybe even sleep in, they came out to have their voices be heard. Event Organizer Trinh Truong says, "We felt like we didn't have any power so this rally is to just basically you know get everybody together and get everybody to show their support."

Students weren't the only ones out showing their support, members of the community also were out holding signs trying to raise awareness. Utica resident says, "Well I'm here to help the kids get what they really need. I just hope that our people in Albany will listen that we really need more money." Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi says, "I want them to know that I'm here and I know their concerns and I am trying to do everything in my power some of the funding and equities that Utica faces and some of the surrounding school districts face." Brindisi says there needs to be a change to the current funding formula so more funding goes to low and moderate wealth districts.