Pupils Stage Afternoon Walkout

One teenager was arrested Wednesday after about 1,000 students walked out of classes at Century High School to show support for teachers in stalled salary talks with Santa Ana Unified School District.

Students said the walkout was inspired by a protest last week in which about 100 teachers across the district called in sick.

“This is the only way we can get people’s attention,” said Carlos Reyes, an 18-year-old senior. “We want our teachers to get a raise.”

Santa Ana police were called to the campus and closed Grand Avenue between Edinger and McFadden avenues for about an hour until the students cleared the street.

One student was arrested after he allegedly threw a bottle at police. No one was injured, said Sgt. Raul Luna, who described the walkout as “a very peaceful but noisy event.”

Officials at the school, which has an enrollment of about 2,700, said they had no clue that students weren’t going to return to classes when lunch ended about 1 p.m.

District Supt. Al Mijares said he was concerned with the nature of the protest.

“I think there’s other ways to demonstrate support,” Mijares said, adding that officials have not decided yet what disciplinary action will be taken against the students.

Mijares said he thinks many who walked out were not sure what the protest was about, and some students agreed.

“This was just about a bunch of people who want to get out of class and get attention,” said pupil Nik Hay. “It’s only going to hurt the teachers because the school board will say that the teachers incited it.”

Officials of the teachers union, the Santa Ana Educators’ Assn., said Wednesday that they are at an impasse after almost seven months of salary negotiations.