Mt. Blue School District high, middle and elementary school students, along with residents of the 10-town Regional School Unit 9, line Main Street on Monday afternoon in front of the Farmington Post Office in a “Stand Up for Schools” demonstration. Most of the written signs urged a no vote or just a reminder to vote Tuesday on a proposed $32.65 million budget, which is nearly $100,000 less than last year’s budget. High school senior River Lisius, the lead organizer of the demonstration, said, “For kids, it is hard not to feel helpless because most of us can’t vote.”

Students, parents and residents of Regional School Unit 9 towns lined Main Street on Monday afternoon in a “Stand Up for Schools” demonstration in front of the Farmington Post Office. Most of the written signs urged no votes or just to vote Tuesday in a yes-or-no validation referendum on a proposed $32.65 million budget, which is about $100,000 less than last year’s budget. River Lisius, a senior at Mt. Blue High School, organized the rally to give students a voice in their education because they are too young to vote.