MARBLEHEAD — On Friday, the Marblehead School Committee and the Marblehead Education Association could not seem further apart, but on Saturday the two parties began to make some significant progress.
The School Committee sent out a press release including updates regarding negotiations on Friday night. The press release summarized the current status of the strike, when it began, and how many hours they spent negotiating throughout the week with no new contract.
The press release also suggested the MEA is using the students as pawns, that they refused to meet when approached earlier this year, and that they were unwilling to move on the School Committees proposals.
“They prepared for battle with their matching gear and lawn signs – and walked out on their students – and have been parading out in the streets of Marblehead,” School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner said.
Despite these statements by the School Committee, on Saturday they made a move in the right direction. One of the main topics the MEA has been fighting for has come to an agreement, the creation of a Joint Committee on School Safety.
According to the MEA social media pages, as of Saturday the two parties have reached three tentative agreements. The MEA states they are still waiting on responses to thirteen more proposals.
Regardless of these progressions, throughout Sunday’s negotiations there were no other agreements made. The School Committee released a statement Sunday night stating the weekend’s negotiations failed to come to a contract agreement and there will be no school Monday.
The School Committee and MEA will continue negotiations Monday morning to work towards coming to an agreement that will bring students back to their schools.
