Students in Newton, Massachusetts, will be home for another day on Tuesday as the public school district's teachers remained on strike.
Negotiations between the Newton Teachers Association and the Newton School Committee lasted all weekend but no deal was struck. If one is not reached by 8 p.m. on Monday, the union will face fines.
Newton Public Schools said a short time before that deadline that classes would be out for a third day.
"The Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and the Newton School Committee failed to reach agreement on a new contract. The NTA has informed us that the strike will continue and therefore, school is canceled for Tuesday, January 23, 2024," the district said in a statement.
"By not going to work, we're really trying to send a message and to advocate for our colleagues," said Ethan Peritz, Newton school teacher.
About 100 teachers are demanding a slew of improvement. In Peritz's case, he's calling for a better working working agreement for special needs instructors.
"I've had aides and behavioral therapists in those rooms. Those classrooms would not have run successfully without those people. And I'm here to advocate for them to make sure they get a fair contract," he said.
The Newtown Teachers Association is also pushing for increased wages, better parental leave, reduced class sizes, affordable health care, mental health resources for students, social workers at schools and more.
Denise Cremin, Newton North High School Spanish teacher, said that while some of the biggest sticking points haven't been disclosed, some concessions have been made.
"There are places we can definitely agree and we are agreeing and that is also progress," said Cremin.
The school committee was hopeful an agreement would be reached Sunday after it offered revised proposals that improved benefits related to parental leave. They also hoped that the union would end the strike after a judge's injunction, ordering teachers to return to school.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller expressed disappointment that the strike would go on, causing the cancellation of school on Monday.
Fuller went on to say that "I believe firmly the adults can negotiate to resolve these issues and have a competitive contract that honors our teachers and is sustainable for our community, while our children are in school learning."
During a hearing at the Middlesex County District Courthouse Monday, the judge ruled that the Newton Teachers Association will be fined $25,000 if no agreement is reached by 8 p.m. Monday - the amount will double each day afterward up until Jan. 25, when the amount would have reached $200,000. If an agreement is not reached by Jan. 26, another hearing will be held at noon to discuss the union's compliance with the law.
It's unclear at this time if schools will once again be closed Tuesday.
