The ROTC program at a local high school is about to be cut.

Eastside High School and the Alachua County School Board say this is the last year for the school's ROTC program. Two instructors will lose their jobs, but students can transfer to Gainesville High School if they want to stay in the program.

Students are upset and have started a petition.

Jackie Johnson with the Alachua County School Board justifies the decision by saying state funding is based on enrollment, and in an elective class, you've got to have a certain number of students to keep the class.

"For this class we really need to have about 150 students at the school taking that program, and unfortunately we only have 46, so there just aren't enough students to maintain that program at Eastside High School," said Johnson.

Officials also say the county will provide additional transportation for students who want to transfer to GHS for the program. However, GHS doesn't offer the International Baccalaureate program so any students from Eastside wanting to transfer would not be able to graduate from IB.