With budget votes just a few weeks away, some New Rochelle parents are holding out hope that changes to next year's spending plan can still be made.

Parents and teachers gathered outside schools throughout the district to protest before classes this morning.

The New Rochelle school district is facing a $33 million deficit. School administrators point to the pandemic, rising costs in transportation, state funding and the use of district reserves as the cause.

The school board passed the budget last month, but voters must still decide.

The spending plan calls for the elimination of close to 200 positions.

While some layoffs are expected, school officials say they'll start by not filling positions that are already vacant as well as retirements.

Also to cut down on transportation costs, the spending plan calls for staggering start times at the districts seven elementary schools, which means less busses, drivers and monitors — at a savings of $2.5 million.

School officials are also looking to override the tax cap which would mean a 3.9% tax levy increase so they will need a 60% of the voters to approve it in order to pass.