Protesters rallied outside William McKinley Intermediate School Friday morning to protest Department of Education budget cuts.

Parents, students, school staff and teachers' union representatives gathered at the school and expressed outrage at losing a host of programs, including academic intervention, art, athletics, drama and music. Some fear that Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Department of Education will make even greater cuts in the future.

"Even if schools weren't affected greatly at this point, we have to look at the major cut he's looking toward in September," said City Councilman Vincent Gentile.

Protesters say Friday's demonstration will be the first of many throughout the city and could move all the way to Albany.