November 23, 2024
Good Evening Marblehead Families.
Although negotiations are continuing tonight, we wanted to call your attention to today’s developments.
The Marblehead School Committee Bargaining Subcommittee attended mediation for the 14th day. The Subcommittee has committed more than 150 hours over the last two weeks to negotiating contracts with the Marblehead Education Association (MEA) and getting our students back into school. Today, the Subcommittee proposed beginning the students' day 5 minutes earlier, reducing the time teachers are required to report to work prior to students and keeping the start of their work day the same. This increases time on learning to allow for a full morning recess for elementary students. At this time, the Union has pushed back on this request, and has not accepted this cost-free path to getting elementary students a second recess.
The Subcommittee also increased the offer for paid parental leave to include 15 days paid entirely by the employer with the balance of the leave to come from the employee’s accrued time. This offer was not accepted. The Subcommittee continues its work tonight to get our students back to school on Monday.
We will continue to update you as things develop. Please take the time to review the information on our “Negotiations Updates” webpage.
Best regards,
Jennifer Schaeffner - Committee Chair
Sarah Fox - Committee Member
Thatcher Kezer - Town Administrator
Marblehead School Committee – Bargaining Subcommittee
