Two Marblehead parents plan to file a petition for emergency injunctive relief in Salem Superior Court Tuesday to allow Marblehead students to participate in athletics and other extracurriculars during a teacher strike.
Interim Superintendent John Robidoux emailed parents Monday night saying, “The Marblehead Education Association has embarked upon an illegal work stoppage (strike). This impacts all aspects of the school day and extensions of the school day. This is a decision that was made by the MEA and those decisions have ramifications. Unfortunately, our students are the ones most impacted by a strike due to the disruption of their education, social-emotional well-being and participation in activities.”
At a Monday night press conference with striking teachers from Gloucester and Beverly, Marblehead Education Association Co-president Jonathan Heller said the School Committee and Robidoux are fully responsible for canceling activities.
“He’s trying to divide this community,” Heller said. “It is most certainly within his power to allow our athletes and extracurriculars to continue.”
Jon Wales, whose two sons play Marblehead High School football, is one of the dads filing the injunction.
“One of the things we’ve been doing the last three-to-five days is identifying every team, every club, every event coming up,” Wales told the Current Monday night. “We’ve been talking with parents involved with those teams to make them plaintiffs in this action. That’s been our focus.”
Wales added, “It’s the only choice we have.”
Wales listed the teams and events that have important games, competitions and field trips coming up. One of the biggest: The MHS football team game in the Division 4 quarter-finals this Friday night in Grafton.
“They’re on a seven-game winning streak,” Wales pointed out, “and because of the adults in the room they will have to forfeit.” Since the finals are single-elimination, this would mark the end of the Magicians’ season, except for the Thanksgiving Day game at Fenway.
Other games and events being canceled include:
- Junior varsity football’s last game of the year against St. Mary’s.
- Unified basketball’s end-of-year jamboree Tuesday in Danvers.
- Performing Arts Senior Showcase in Boston Wednesday.
- A field trip to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with a total cost of $8,000 raised by parents.
- The girls and boys cross country teams’ state meet this weekend.
- Cheer team’s regional competition this weekend.
- The MHS robotics team’s competition Nov. 23.
- MHS powderpuff’s annual game against Swampscott on Nov. 23.
Also at tonight’s press conference, striking teachers explained why they are taking this step. The MEA is asking for higher wages, better family leave and bereavement benefits and more say in setting safety policies in schools.
“Everything the MEA is fighting for is grounded in what’s best for the community,” Heller said.
“The School Committee is trying to bully our educators into accepting a substandard offer,” added MEA Co-president Sally Shevory.
The union and School Committee bargaining subcommittee are set to resume negotiations Tuesday afternoon.
Read more about the teachers strike HERE. Stay with the Current as this story develops.
