CAMDEN — More than 300 students, predominantly from the city's five high schools, staged a walk-out at noon Wednesday, and marched to the district administration building to protest the proposed teacher layoffs announced Monday.

Chanting "save our schools," as they swept down Cooper Street, they gathered outside the offices of Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard, who on Monday approved the termination of 241 staff members, including 206 teachers, as part of a plan to fill $28 million of a $75 million budget deficit.

"Students from all different student organizations organized this together," said Nala Johnson, an 11th-grade student at Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy. "This was completely student organized. We wanted to have a protest after we found out about the layoffs."

Johnson, who helped organize the walkout with the help of a few parents and community activists, said the teachers knew about the walk-out and opposed it, but the students proceeded with it anyway.

Ninth-grader Naisha Rodriguez, a Camden High School student, said her drama teacher — her favorite teacher — was among those being laid off.

"It's not fair to them and it's not fair to us," she said.

Once outside the central administration office near the corner of Cooper and Front streets, crowding the stairs to the front door, they were led by a group of adults who identified themselves as parents and community activists concerned with the future of public schools in Camden.

"We are fighting against the dismantling of our public schools," said Ronsha Dickerson, a parent of six children in Camden public schools. She stated her husband is a teacher, at Camden High School, but was not one of those laid off.

"They fired good teachers, teachers with 25 to 30 years experience," she added, standing on the front steps of the district offices, addressing the hundreds of students assembled. "They do not care. They do not care about these students."

According to Dickerson, her 11th-grade daughter and Johnson approached her asking to help in organizing the day's protests.

"The students called on the parents to stand up and help them," she said. "If the students want to take over and take the lead, we will show them how to organize."

Following several chants of "We want Rouhanifard," the superintendent chose to walk outside and address the students. While he was initially greeted with a chorus of boos, the students promptly quieted themselves to hear what he had to say.

"First of all, I want to say I appreciate you all coming out here today — this is a great way to have a dialogue about these issues," he said, speaking to the students from the front steps of the central administration building. "I want to answer some of the questions you have — we are not closing any schools. We have been saying that for the last three months.

"As for the layoffs, we have a budget problem and we are managing it as best we can. It is a hard time for everyone. I'm going to be coming in to the schools over the next two weeks to speak with you and the staff."

The district is currently planning to "phase out" Pyne Poynt Middle School, stating the school will no longer be taking on any new students. By the 2016-17 academic year, the school will shut down.

"However, there will be no redistribution of students," said Rouhanifard. "We will ensure the students that are there are successful and graduate."

The 241 layoffs made official Monday evening follows the termination of 94 central administration employees late last month.

The Camden school district began the most recent budget process with a $75 million deficit, including a $42 million operating budget shortfall. According to Rouhanifard, non-personnel cuts and the use of surplus funds have helped fill all but $28 million of that gap. However, the superintendent said the remaining gap will have to be reconciled with the elimination of 575 positions, many of them vacant.

In all, 335 central office and school employees have been laid off.

According to Dickerson, she and the students are planning more walk-outs and marches for next week, including a protest in front of city hall next Tuesday, and in Trenton the following Thursday.

Contact staff writer Jason Laday at 856-686-3628 or jladay@southjerseymedia.com.