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Students In Chester Voice Concerns Over Lack Of Teachers

CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) - There are concerns that students at one of the high schools in the Chester-Upland School District won't be able to graduate because of a lack of teachers. A small protest in Chester tried to drive that point home.

A half dozen members of a local activist group and one senior at the Science and Discovery School picketed briefly to complain that students were told by their principal last week they wouldn't be able to garner enough credits to move on to college.

A lack of teachers, according to senior Khalil Williams, forces students to waste about half the school day.

"We're just having free periods in which we're sitting around, browsing the internet and doing nothing, or studying for other course work," Williams said.

The district insists if the principal made such a statement, it was in error.

Spokesman Joel Avery says the interim superintendent is personally reviewing every senior's records.

"If he finds a single student with any kind of deficiency, the district will do everything necessary to ensure that that student graduates on time," Avery explained.

In fact, they're looking to fill a couple teaching vacancies caused by state budget cuts.

Reported By David Madden, KYW Newsradio

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