Teachers strikes will continue in three North Shore communities Tuesday, though negotiators reported some “significant progress” in contract talks Monday.

“We have made such significant progress today that there was a real possibility of us coming to an agreement tonight that would have opened schools tomorrow,” Gloucester Public Schools Superintendent Ben Lummis said in a release to families Monday night. “Unfortunately, we will still need to continue our collaboration through the night and into tomorrow in order to finalize an agreement.”

The Gloucester schools head said families and staff should “make preparations to be in school on Wednesday, November 20th,” marking the most optimistic tone from the school districts since strike votes Gloucester, Beverly and Marblehead over a week ago.

Beverly and Gloucester have been on strike since Friday, Nov. 8, and the Marblehead Education Association followed Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Teachers strikes are illegal in Massachusetts, and all three union were court-ordered last week to start paying $50,000 a day plus $10,000 increases for each day they remained on strike. If the strikes last through the end of the work day Tuesday, Beverly and Gloucester unions will owe $350,000 in fines and the MEA will owe $260,000.

Both sides of negotiations in Beverly and Marblehead did not match the Gloucester superintendent’s confidence about reopening Wednesday, but noted progress in negotiations and many took a less accusatory tone than in previous days.

MEA members said they gained the ability to bargain with the school committee face to face Monday, which they called “an important step toward rebuilding trust.”

“Now that we are finally meeting face-to-face, we are confident that educators and school committee members speaking directly and honestly to each other will generate movement toward a fair settlement that will reopen the schools as soon as possible,” the MEA said in a statement.

The Beverly School Committee Chair Rachel Abell said the committee members “remain optimistic that we can reach an agreement tonight” around 7 p.m. Monday, though classes were canceled at about 7:30 p.m. The chair emphasized the committee’s proposal to raise paraprofessional pay as a significant compromise.

In a mid-day release, Beverly educators continued to say that school committee members were “regressively (bargaining)” and attempting to “break” the union.

Educators have highlighted significant raises for paraprofessionals, along with other educators, and paid family leave as major priorities in negotiations.

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Abell also addressed the plan to make up school after the strike, noting the state requires districts to have 180 school days.

“Unfortunately, our options are limited and may involve canceling some or all of February or April vacation weeks, delaying graduation or weekend school,” Abell wrote to families. “We are telling you this in the interest of transparency.”

All three unions plan to go to the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday to rally and speak to lawmakers amid the strikes.