Marblehead Teachers Strike: School Vacation Days Set To Be Canceled
MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead Superintendent John Robidoux outlined his plan Wednesday night to cancel February school vacation and take days from both the holiday and April breaks as necessary to reach the state-mandated 180 school days to make up for days lost to the ongoing teachers’ strike.
Speaking ahead of the School Committee’s executive session to discuss strategy in the strike that cost a seventh day of school on Wednesday, Robidoux presented possibilities for an immediate return to the classrooms, as well as those if the strike lasts into next week and costs up to 11 school days.
The first day of the strike — on Nov. 12 — was declared a professional development day in exchange for the one on Jan. 31 when the students will now have to attend classes to make up for day lost.
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Additional days would begin on the Dec. 23 date that was to be the start of the holiday break, and include Feb. 18-21 during the Presidents Day week break, as well as June 23 to make up for the six days lost if classrooms reopen immediately.
With seven days lost, classes would also be in session on April 22 and April 23 of spring break, and not include June 23.
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With eight days lost, classes would be in session April 22-24.
At nine days, classes would be in session April 22-25.
With 10 days lost, which would include schools being closed through the Thanksgiving break, both February and April vacations would be canceled — outside of the Monday holidays — and school would also extend to June 23.
This schedule does not include the need to make up any additional snow days.
The School Committee did not vote on the schedule on Wednesday with Robidoux noting that it would be best to determine the totality of all days that need to be made up before changing the school calendar.
“This is obviously a difficult time here at Marblehead Public Schools and other communities on the North Shore,” School Committee Chair Jennifer Schaeffner said. “This is not necessarily the time to have conversations around that.”
Schaeffner did not allow public comment during the meeting before the vote to enter into executive session.
Robidoux did not yet announce a school closure for Thursday at the meeting.
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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