Marblehead schools to allow football playoffs as North Shore teacher strikes continue
Marblehead Public Schools will reinstate athletics and extracurriculars as teacher strikes drag on, the district reported Thursday, allowing this weekend’s high school football playoff game to continue.
“After taking time to do my due diligence and meet with the Athletic Director and our administrative team, I have determined that we can equitably and safely allow for high school athletic and extracurricular activities to take place as scheduled this weekend,” said John Robidoux, Marblehead Public Schools Interim Superintendent, said Thursday morning.
Marblehead teachers went on strike on Tuesday, following educators’ decision to strike in Beverly and Gloucester last week. Marblehead school officials were hit particularly hard by parent backlash after their decision to cancel extracurriculars during the strike — putting football playoffs and cross country state championship meets at risk.
Several parents filed a lawsuit against the Marblehead School Committee on Tuesday, asking the court to order the school leaders to reinstate the extracurriculars and saying the ban would cause “serious irreparable harm” to many of the senior participating in these activities for the last time.
The Marblehead varsity football team is scheduled to compete in the Division 4 state quarterfinals in Grafton, and students are set to go on an $8,000 fieldtrip to the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Friday. On Saturday, the junior varsity team has their last game of the season, and girls and boys cross country are scheduled to compete in a state championship meet.
School Committee members pointed the finger at the striking teachers for the decision to cancel extracurriculars earlier in the week, stating they did not have the staff to safely and equitably continue after-school activities.
Marblehead Education Association members likewise blamed the School Committee and said they were willing to allow staff to participate in the extracurricular activities.
Robidoux said Thursday the schools will be “utilizing non-teacher, non-union personnel to support these activities.”
“This is just a small step in normalizing the student’s experience during these challenging times,” said Robidoux. “I remain cautiously optimistic that the ongoing mediation will result in an agreement and students will be back within the classrooms in short order.”
Gloucester and Beverly Public Schools officials did not state whether they intend to allow for extracurriculars as of Thursday afternoon.
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Teachers unions in Gloucester and Beverly began to face $50,000 fines for their continued strikes on Thursday. The fines will increase by $10,000 for each additional day the unions remain on strike. Teachers strikes, along with other municipal employees, are prohibited from striking under Massachusetts state law.
The unions and schools committees have reported progress on some contract provisions, while expressing frustration over major areas like salary. The teachers have state priorities including wage increases, particularly for lower paid paraprofessionals, and gaining paid family leave.
All three teachers unions remained in negotiations with school committees Thursday.