Over a dozen teachers and students from Austin High School united Friday, April 1, as part of a citywide Chicago Teachers Union one-day strike to demand more city and state funding for Chicago Public Schools. Teachers have been working under a contract that expired last summer between CPS and the CTU. Schools like Austin High School have seen a reduction in staff and loss in funding to charter schools. The Austin High school campus is made up of three different high schools: VOISE Academy, Austin Polytechnical Academy and Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy. Some CPS teachers questioned Friday how much the state cares about supporting public school students. Teachers at Austin High School said they are not only marching for better funding, but also for their kids so they know that they matter.

Austin High School teachers prepare signs for CTU march April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Austin High School prepares to march down Fulton Ave. to Central Ave. in CTU march April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Austin High School teachers gathered at 7:30am in front of their school. Although it was a bit chilly, spirits were high, and the coffee and donuts provided a bit of an energy boost. Soon after everyone arrived, the teachers marched to the corner of Central and Fulton Avenue to begin their protest.

Austin High School teachers met early Friday, April 1 morning to prepare for the CTU march. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Despite the cold, the spirits of Austin High School teachers remain high as they take to the streets Friday, April 1 as part of a demonstration for quality CPS funding from the state. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Strike posters lay in a pile in preparation for the CTU march in the Austin neighborhood April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Teachers dispute pay discrepancies during their one-day strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Aly Stout (left) and Ms. Martin (right) arrive early in front of Austin High School, the meeting grounds for the school's march for funding on April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

“Today we are here to expose sustainable funding efforts from the city and the state.” Aly Stout, Austin High School teacher and Chicago Teachers Union Delegate

Austin High School teachers prepare to move down the street to continue CTU march April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Austin High School teachers happily prepare for what will be a long day for some of them during the CTU's one-day strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

"We already have nothing, how can you take more," reads one of the signs Austin High School has prepared for the one-day CTU strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

"We believe in public schools," reads the sign an Austin High School teachers holds during the one-day CTU citywide strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Hector Gonzales and his daughters prepare for Austin High School's march April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

“We are going to fight for them, even if no one else is.” Megan Carlisle, History teacher at Austin High School

Austin High School teachers march down Fulton Avenue during CTU's one-day strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Austin High School teachers walk down Fulton Avenue during one-day strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Austin High School teachers come across other protesters from neighboring school Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

As the teachers stood waving their signs and chanting, cars passing by honked in support. Teachers across the street at Edward K. "Duke" Ellington Elementary School joined Austin High School teachers in chants and shouting. The demonstrators continued despite the rain and decreasing temperatures.

Teachers across the street at Edward K. "Duke" Ellington Elementary School chant with Austin High School body as they stand on opposite sides of Central Avenue Friday, April 1 as part of the CTU teachers strike/march. Cars driving by honk in approval of their movement. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

"Teachers united will never be divided!" chant from Austin High School and Edward K. "Duke" Ellington Elementary School teachers

Deonte Shanklin (senior student at Austin High School) stands with his teachers at the CTU march in Chicago's Austin neighborhood Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

"I just want to support us...to give the teachers what they deserve, because they [do] such hard work for the students and it's time for us to help them." Deonte Shanklin, Austin High School student (senior)

Teachers fight to stay warm as they stand on the corner of Central and Fulton Avenue in the rain and the cold during the CTU one-day strike April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Despite the rain and cold temperatures, Austin High School teachers remained on the street all morning, the last of the demonstrators trickling off at around 11:00am. Some joined the larger demonstration downtown later at the Thompson Center at 4 p.m. that afternoon.

The support from drivers passing by keeps Austin High School teachers smiling during the CTU one-day strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

"Our children matter…they have value; it doesn’t matter what neighborhood they live in, they should still have access to high quality education.” Megan Carlisle, History teacher at Austin High School

Austin High School teachers stand on the corner of Fulton and Central Avenue during CTU's one-day strike April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

"I hope that the people who make the decisions understand that we cannot afford to lose any teachers, we can't afford to lose any schools and we need more to help our kids succeed. Instead of taking things away, we need to be balanced." Peggy Zitzer, Austin High School Diverse Learners teacher

"Teachers united will never be divided," the group of teachers from Austin High School chant during the CTU one-day strike April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Despite the weather, Austin High School teachers remain on the street during one-day strike Friday, April 1. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

Hector Gonzales (teacher at Austin High School) and his two daughters join the CTU march on April 1 in the Austin neighborhood. (Ramona Meadors/Photo)

“A lot of negative messages are coming out of central office about what teachers are doing, and teachers are really here just to stand up for the kids.” Hector Gonzales, Austin High School teacher