. >> reporter: board director mike hutcheson had voted in favor of postponing the changes. the vote followed hours of heated public comments. >> i am disheartened and disgusted that you have not even come to our school site to see how the closure is impacting our students and affecting families. >> if you have a problem and that problem is over budgeting, you don't solve that problem by taking away the service you are supposed to provide. >> news of the closures and mergers prompted students to take to the streets in protest. most of the school set to be closed are predominantly black and latino. some teachers are on their 18th day of a hunger strike. >> i knew i would probably die for this cause because of greed and in the name of saving money. >> reporter: he shamed the board for the decision. >> you have the nerve to go see those crying babies and moms who know what you are doing to them. i warned you, let's go. >> the district says the changes are necessary because of declining enrollment, because public schools are funded based on enrollment. the district is facing a d