Coupeville teachers gathered at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 20 on Friday to let the community know that state funding cuts to education are not right.

“Most importantly, we’re thanking the local community. They’ve been most supportive but the state keeps cutting. We want to give our students the very best but it’s hard to give the very best when funding is taken away,” said Coupeville High School teacher Tacy Bigelow, co-president of the Coupeville Education Association, which organized the demonstration.

The teachers held signs reading “no more cuts” and “we can’t put students first if the state puts teachers last” to protest state budget cuts resulting in furlough days and cuts to school programs.

Bigelow urges the community to contact legislators to tell them to vote for full funding for education.

“We work really hard so kids don’t know the funding isn’t there but it’s getting harder and harder and we’re all feeling it,” Bigelow said.