School is out for an eighth day Tuesday in Newton, Massachusetts, where striking teachers continue to push for a new contract.
Newton Public Schools and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced Monday evening that students would not be returning to the classroom the next day.
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Negotiations fell apart once again over the weekend, and now the Newton Teachers Association is facing even steeper fines.
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There were hopes on both sides going into the weekend that an agreement would be hashed out. Teachers went back to the picket line for the eleventh consecutive day, while students will miss out on their seventh day of school.
Both sides said they're sympathetic with parents who are having to, once again, figure out childcare on Monday. However, that hasn't been enough to get them compromised.
"If the parents don't – and the students – don't speak up, nothing is going to happen," said Newton school parent Amy Massey.
It's what could tilt the scales in the ongoing battle between the teacher's union and the school committee.
With three children in Newton Public Schools, Massey is trying to balance work, parenting and civic duty.
"I have a job that I am going in and out. I'm re-arranging meetings today to get to the rally at 1 o'clock," she said.
She rounded up her family to join picketing teachers Monday morning in pressuring the city to broker a deal and break what she considers a stalemate.
"Parents need to be in her face," said Massey referring to the mayor. "We've been sending emails, they go unanswered. We need to be present. We haven't seen the mayor. We're doing everything we can."
But Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the school committee said it's the teachers' union that is leading to children missing out on now seven days of school and parents scrambling to find childcare.
"Removing the school routine, as one parent wrote, is wreaking havoc. Children feel isolated at home, canceling extracurriculars is removing great joy and hurting great mental health," said Fuller at a press conference Sunday night.
Both the union and the committee went into the weekend with hopes of reaching a deal and ending the strike, but disagreements on budgets ultimately led talks nowhere.
"Accepting the NTA proposal wholesale would have required a reduction in force of more than 70 educators and support staff throughout the life of the contract," claimed Newton School Committee Chair Christopher Brezski.
"We did everything they asked. We dropped our cost-of-living adjustments by 4% over four years, we phased in our proposals over the four-year contract, we saved them millions of dollars, and they said no," said Ryan Normandin, NTA negotiator
The teachers' union has been on strike for 11 days, leaving parents wondering when it will end.
"It's frustrating that nothing is happening," said Massey.
Negotiations resumed Monday with another rally planned for 1p.m. outside City Hall.
