Santa Barbara High School students walked off campus on Tuesday in support of teachers who are negotiating a new contract.

About 800 students left during second period and marched from the high school to Santa Barbara Unified School District headquarters. It was the third high school walkout in the past 10 days, following Dos Pueblos High School and San Marcos High School.

Law enforcement closed Canon Perdido and Santa Barbara streets to allow the students to march in the middle of the street.

“Hey, hey, ho, ho, these low wages have got to go,” the students chanted.

After arriving at the headquarters, a dozen students gave speeches explaining why their teachers matter.

“Teachers are shaping the next generation of the world,” student Blake Johnson said. “They are the most important job on the planet, but they are underpaid. We have to do better as a society.”

The district underpaid teachers as a whole by $6.7 million in the 2022-23 school year.

The Santa Barbara Teachers Association is in negotiations with the district, seeking a 15% raise next year, and 8% the following year, citing the high cost of living.

The district has offered a 9% increase next year and 4% the following year. It says that the amount paid in salaries last year dipped below minimum levels because COVID-19 money affected the funding ratios.

On Tuesday afternoon, the District put out a press release saying that it had reached an agreement with the teachers association on benefits and class sizes.

The news release stated that the District will pay 75% of medical benefits and keep class sizes small.

The sides have held three negotiation sessions.

Teachers at the three high schools have stopped hosting clubs at lunchtime, writing letters of recommendation and participating in after-school events in what is known as a “work-to-contract.”

The Santa Barbara Teachers Association has taken its battle with the district public, forcing early contract negotiations. The district and the SBTA met again on Tuesday for the latest round of talks.

The students protested outside the conference room where negotiations were taking place.

Combining the three high schools, nearly 2,500 students have marched and rallied in recent days. Students who leave campus can have their absences excused because state education law says students can leave campus for a political protest, without penalty.

Student Enzo Pelufo said equal rights have come only through protests and speaking out.

“The future is on the backs of our teachers,” Pelufo said. “Without our teachers, we have no future. All of the rights we have is because of these strikes, these rallies.”

Student David Vincent Benavidez was the most animated at the event. He led the chant, “What do we want? Fair pay. When do we want it? Now.”

“Teachers need to be paid more,” he said. “There are no excuses. We cannot let up. We need to keep rallying and supporting our teachers for our everything they do for us. We need to keep going.”

La Colina Jr. High School plans a walkout on Wednesday morning.