Two North Shore school districts found themselves in a challenging situation on Tuesday as their teachers remained on strike with no immediate resolution in sight. Union leaders from other districts took a significant step by meeting with Governor Maura Healey, seeking her support in resolving the issue.

Expressing Concerns and Hopes

The group expressed deep concerns about the ongoing strikes in Beverly and Marblehead. These strikes have now forced students out of their classrooms for the third consecutive week, causing significant disruptions to their education. Teachers in both communities have been fighting passionately for higher wages, particularly for paraprofessionals, along with improved benefits. It's important to note that the union members who met with the governor are not from Beverly or Marblehead but represent several other communities such as Malden and Andover.Governor Healey shared her perspective, stating, "We had a good meeting. It was productive. I think that there has been progress throughout the day. I am hopeful that communities will come to a resolution soon and students will be back in school." This shows her commitment to finding a solution and getting the students back to their classrooms.The Malden Education Association's Deb Gesualdo emphasized, "We have asked Governor Healey to stand with educators, with students and with community members and to be a supportive presence to help compel the school committees to come to the table in good faith." This highlights the collective effort needed to address the issue.However, Holly Currier from the Andover Education Association expressed disappointment as she said, "She said she would like to partner with us on these issues and would consider ways that she could support us. She wouldn’t commit to coming to either of the locals today or tomorrow, which, for me, was very disappointing because this is a ‘which side are you on’ moment."

Negotiation Stances and Actions

The governor made it clear that she would not get directly involved in negotiations but would continue to communicate with all parties and urge them to reach an agreement. She emphasized, "I’m just hopeful that people really especially on the eve of Thanksgiving can work really hard today to try to get a resolution so that both teachers and educators and our students can be back in school."On Monday night in Beverly, teachers made a bold statement by packing a city council meeting. They brought a bargaining table and staged a photo opportunity after the school committee called off negotiations. The union's stance was firm as they said they won't take part in state-mandated fact-finding, despite the school committee voting to move forward with the process. One Beverly city councilor became emotional as he called out school leaders, saying, "You’ve had a front-row view to what’s happening in our schools, and you should have been more proactive." Julia Brotherton from the Beverly Teachers added, "We are very close. The problem is the school committee left the bargaining table. They refuse to bargain at all."In Marblehead, teachers took to the streets on Monday after a mediator ended talks between the union and school committee. The school committee also took legal action against four members of the union. Both sides in Marblehead are working with a fact-finder but have not yet reached a deal. The governor expressed her concern, stating, "It is unacceptable, and all of this is hurting our kids."These ongoing events in the North Shore school districts highlight the complexity and importance of resolving teacher-student issues and getting the educational system back on track.