COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- More than 100 Sierra High School students walked out of class Thursday morning not once, but twice.

Students said they were protesting changes in Harrison School District 2 implemented by Superintendent Mike Miles.

Students said their teachers are worried about losing their jobs, and it's affecting them.

"We're all freaking out, stressed about everything because the teachers are stressed, and it's hard for us to sit here and try to make it through high school when all the teachers want to quit," student body president Trey Fowler said.

Others students agreed.

"They're doing all these things that are affecting us negatively, and they're just smiling and saying 'hey we're doing awesome things' while these kids are failing classes because their teachers are getting fired," Alyssa Warner, a student at Sierra, said.

Some students said they were protesting a recent firing of a special education teacher at Sierra High School.

"Mr. Miles just said, like, just now, that he wants teachers that care about us that want us to succeed, and there's this teacher, like a really nice teacher, that just got fired because she wanted her special ed kids to succeed. I don't understand," Amal Alhadad, a student, said.

Jennifer Sprague, public information officer for Harrison School District, said two employees have been removed from Sierra recently but wouldn't elaborate on why.

"We understand that students get attached to teachers and staff around the school, but the important thing is it's our job to provide high quality instruction in those classrooms, and we don't debate our HR issues. We just make sure that we make the best teacher in every classroom for the students, and we put kids first," Sprague said.

Sprague added District 2 will do whatever is necessary to help their students succeed.

"At Sierra High School it's kids first here, and we need the best instruction and the best teachers in the classroom and whatever that takes, that's what Harrison is gonna do," she said.

Board members admit the bar has been raised for teachers and said sometimes change is uncomfortable.

"Expectations have been raised for teachers and students to make sure our students are prepared to go to college and graduate high school. There's always going to be staff and students and people in the community that are nervous about that," Sprague said.

Thursday evening during a heated board meeting, more protests were voiced to the board.

"Any time teachers are afraid to come to school and teach because they're afraid of losing their jobs it affects our kids," one concerned parent said.

Students also spoke up during the meeting.

"Every single one of my teachers is just terrified anytime anyone walks into the room" student Danielle Ross told the board.

Ross said she feels like the school board isn't thinking about the students.

"The thing that I'm most upset about is the way the staff and the students have been treated by the people who are in charge. We've been belittled, we've been demeaned, people are condescending towards us, and none of our opinions have been taken into consideration," Ross said.

Other students said they felt like they have to stand up for their teachers because they can't stand up for themselves.

"There are teachers at this school that have impacted my life, that have changed my life, literally forever, helped me make huge decisions about what I want to do with my future, and seeing these teachers breaking down and seeing these teachers having their health affected because of the stress and the fear, that's just unacceptable to me," Belinda DeMario, a student, said.

Despite the negative feedback at the board meeting, Sprague said the majority of the community is supportive of their goals.

"The majority of feedback we're getting from the community is very powerful and positive," she said.

Board members said they will take parents and students' concerns into consideration. However, they plan to move forward with their plan to help students succeed.

"The community is ready for a school district to step up its rigor and to step up its game and make sure our kids are graduating prepared for college," Sprague said.

Board members concluded their meeting to shouts of "vote them out."
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Original story:

Harrison School District 2 officials, as well as multiple parents and students, said students from Sierra High School in Colorado Springs organized a walk-out Thursday morning to protest after several faculty members were recently let go.

Few details are available, but students were outside around 9 a.m. for a protest that lasted about 15 minutes before administrators ushered them back inside.

Around 10:15 a.m., more than 100 students again walked out.

A student said administrators would be addressing the students Thursday, and a board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m.