PORTLAND, Ore. - Dozens of students and many parents staged a mass walk-out at a northeast Portland middle school Thursday in protest of proposed cuts to arts programs by the Portland School Board.

Students with signs took to the sidewalks around the DaVinci Arts middle school at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, saying they would not return to classes until their message was received by board members.

Many parents of students enrolled at the arts-emphasis school joined their children at the protest. They say the district is going to cut music programs at the school and put more emphasis on math classes.

"We bought a fixer-upper house to be in range of DaVinci for our daughter," said Michael D'Angelo, a concerned parent. "It's been a priority of ours since day one." 

"When I could come here and watch her recitals and stuff, and they were just amazing." Pele Warnock, a student at the school said during the protest. "And now I come here and I'm just like 'wow.' And just to know that things are trying to change and stuff, it's kind of heartbreaking."

Students drew on the sidewalk outside the school with chalk while others danced, acted or yelled slogans related to the protest. Many held signs.

Parents say they have been petitioning the school board to avoid making any changes to the curriculum.