The students of Marblehead High School have decided to take action. On Thursday, Nov. 7, students held a walkout to show support for Marblehead faculty and staff ahead of their vote to strike on Friday, Nov. 8.
Since March, the Marblehead Education Association (MEA) has been negotiating with the School Committee over issues such as higher wages, fair parental leave, and safety protocols. Despite months of negotiations, no agreement has been reached. The faculty, including education professionals, have been without a contract for 68 days, while custodians have gone 128 days without one.
On Monday, Nov. 4, students from all grades came together to create a video expressing their gratitude for their teachers. In the video, students shared experiences about how teachers go the extra mile to guide them. They also voiced concerns about how the school treats teachers. “It seems like the school doesn’t care about them at all,” one student said.
The students also discussed the potential strike in the video, emphasizing its impact on the schools. Students are particularly concerned about their sports teams, fearing that if a strike occurs, they could become ineligible for playoffs and championship games.
At 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, students exited the building and took a lap around the property, which lasted about 15 minutes. Wearing red in solidarity with the MEA, students made signs that read “#payourstaff” and “Pay my teachers.” Throughout the walk, students chanted, “What do we want? Fair contracts! When do we want it? Now!”
School Committee Co-Chair Jenn Schaeffner commented on the walkout, saying, “The school committee supports the students’ voice in sharing their thoughts and concerns regarding the teacher and staff negotiations.” Schaeffner added, “We appreciate that they were able to do this in a respectful and peaceful way, and we thank them for sharing their voice.”
The MEA is currently on strike in Marblehead, with negotiations taking place daily.