Hundreds of teachers marched from Marblehead High School to the Brown School on Tuesday where they held a rally before the latest collective bargaining session with the School Committee’s bargaining subcommittee. The Marblehead Education Association agreed to another negotiating meeting on July 16.
“With contracts set to expire in the coming weeks, the MEA hopes to receive a comprehensive
package from the School Committee at their next session which addresses the many problems outlined by the union to date,” the MEA wrote in a post-rally press release.
During Tuesday’s negotiation session, the subcommittee and union exchanged wage proposals and “agreed that there is room for improvement to benefit some students requiring additional supports,” according to a statement sent by School Committee Chair Sarah Fox.
According to Hannah Hood, a fourth-grade teacher and collective bargaining committee member, the MEA is “advocating for paid parental leave for our workers for everybody. That includes all five units of our staff, including custodians, parents, tutors, custodians, as well as educators.”
She added, “We would like to have fair wages for all. And that includes making sure that every single person who works for the district is getting paid a fair wage that is above low-income status.”
Kristen Grohe, a fifth-grade special education teacher, spoke passionately at the rally.
“As chaos has swirled around us the past four years, we as staff have carried the students through each and every single day,” she said. “It is time for the district to show us the respect we deserve. For too long, we’ve attempted to work and partner with an administration that has simply refused to address the needs of us as educators.”
Shelley Burns, a teacher, emphasized the importance of the community supporting educators.
“We teachers deserve the same as everyone else. We take care of your children,” she said. “That’s a big deal. And we deserve to have a living wage, because currently it’s not enough.”
Kathryn Homan, an ESL teacher, emphasized that supporting schools is essential.
“And if you don’t support the schools, you’re not supporting the future of the community,” she said.
She noted that people are attracted to Marblehead because of its educational system, making it crucial to treat both teachers and students with the respect they deserve.
“We all know the sacrifices that teachers, parents, tutors, custodians, everybody has [made],” said Michael Giardi, a long-time educator and coach, as he rallied the crowd outside the Brown School. “You are committed to your children here in this school. We’ve been here through the worst of it. And I do mean the worst of it.”
He added, “From COVID to administrator after administrator after administrator, you’re the ones that have always been here in spite of everything that has happened.”
Leigh Blander contributed reporting.
