(03/24/06) MAPLEWOOD ? Hundreds of students at Columbia High School in Maplewood staged a demonstration Friday morning to voice concerns about major issues.

Students who attended the demonstration say their principal should be fired over recent comments that some perceive to have racist undertones. The principal has stated that there are two classes of students at the high school, those who want to learn and those who could care less. Many students took that remark to be a swipe at racial inequalities within the school.

In addition, demonstrators claim they are upset with some of the superintendent?s proposed budget-cutting moves and the lack of a contract for teachers. The superintendent claims the cost-cutting measures do not affect the learning process. Some of the moves include laying off some current workers, such as security guards and lunch aides, and replacing them with outside contractors.