STOUGHTON, Wis. -- Parents and students in Stoughton hit the streets on Saturday morning to fight for their schools.

The Stoughton School District is in a budget crisis, finding themselves short more than $8 million. Parents and their children said that they fear that if a referendum for the money doesn't pass in April that the school district will be forced to make crushing cuts.

The cuts could range from teacher layoffs to slashing programs like athletics and music -- prospects that organizers say could severely limit students' options.

"Every child finds that different things turn that boy or girl on," said march organizer Buzz Davis. "It may be physics, it may be science, it may be mathematics, it may be drama, music, art, and sports."

"We need to keep our good teachers, and sports, and music," said fourth-grader Eli Malmquist.

Eli’s father, Randy, agreed. "It's the things like the music program, the TAG gifted program for gifted children, the athletic programs to get kids out and get the exercise they need for a good well-rounded education."

The budget referendum will be put to a vote in Stoughton on April 6.

Five years ago, a similar referendum failed and the school district ended up laying off nearly 70 teachers.