Yonkers School Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada hosted a town hall meeting at Casimir Pulaski School Thursday to discuss the school district’s budget shortfalls.

The Yonkers school district is battling a budget deficit that places programs, teachers and extracurriculars on the chopping block.

Advocacy efforts in Albany and in the city have generated an extra $41 million to help fill the district’s $60 million gap.

But the district still faces a $17 million deficit.

This means 26,000 students in the state’s fourth largest school district may lose programs, resources and teachers unless the district receives more funding from the state.

"For a city that is succeeding, that the 86th percentile graduation rate, that is dealing with these challenges, so let's support our students," urged Quezada.

Aanya Soman, a student, said, “It's so important to us and especially to our teachers that we have this experience, education is extremely important."

Students and parents are still asking the governor for additional funding to help close the gap.

The state has until June, when the legislative session closes, to make a final decision.