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CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) -- Nearly 400 students temporarily halted a School Committee meeting, chanting and waving placards as they protested the school board�s recent decision to eliminate all sports and other extracurricular activities in an effort to balance the budget.

The students, along with their parents and other residents, packed the Cranston High School East auditorium to express their dismay at school and city officials for being unable to settle their budget differences which led to the cuts.

�What you are all doing is tantamount to the emotional abuse of our children,� said Cathryn Nota.

The committee has already filed an appeal in Superior Court in an attempt to restore funds to its budget.

During the informational meeting, board members found themselves the target of the public�s wrath, although there was plenty of criticism of Mayor Stephen Laffey, who was not there.

School officials had requested a budget of $110.3 million for the current year. They cut that spending plan last week to bring it in line with the $104.5 million budget set by the City Council.

During recent meetings with the council, the budget gap was narrowed to about $3.2 million as additional revenue sources and some savings were identified.

In addition to eliminating extracurricular activities, the cuts wipe out almost all money for textbooks, classroom supplies and substitute teachers, The Providence Journal reported.

�Those cuts were in no way meant to be permanent or cast in stone,� said School Committee Chairwoman Jacqueline White. She said she hoped to be successful in Superior Court.

The crowd began gathering an hour before the start of the meeting. Students dominated the crowd, with many wearing their sports uniforms.

�Those are our kids,� one woman shouted over applause as the walked throughout the meeting. �That�s what this is all about.�