HANSON, Mass. —

A student protest is scheduled as 23 staff members at the Whitman-Hanson School District are clocking in for their final day of work Friday amid a budget crisis.

The district is currently operating at a $1.39 million budget shortfall. Five teachers, two substitute teachers, 11 paraprofessionals and five non-union staffers are being laid off.

Students said they plan to wear custom T-shirts and protest the layoffs, which the district has warned are only "phase 1."

Parents, students and staff have been voicing their concerns and calling for accountability from school leaders.

"I was disturbed because those are, like, our teachers who didn't do anything wrong and they're getting laid off for absolutely no reason because other people lost money," one student said.

Meanwhil

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