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Haverhill classes cancelled for 4th straight day, families feeling the crunch

By Julianne Lima, Boston 25 News and Brea Douglas, Boston 25 News
By Julianne Lima, Boston 25 News and Brea Douglas, Boston 25 News

8:15 PM Update: Haverhill has cancelled school for the fourth straight day.

Haverhill Public Schools announced the outcome on Facebook.

Good evening Haverhill families, We are still in discussions with the Haverhill Education Association. While we are...

Posted by Haverhill Public Schools on Wednesday, October 19, 2022

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HAVERHILL, Mass. -- No school in Haverhill again Wednesday as the teacher strike continues.

The Haverhill Education Association says the offer presented to them by the district hasn’t changed much since Sunday.

Until a deal is reached, families are being forced to figure it out for a third straight day.

While Haverhill school teachers spend their day on the picket lines, students have put down the books and picked up basketballs at the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club. It, along with the YMCA, have stepped up to give kids a place to go while mom and dad work.

“It’s been a busy past couple of days. It has been a lot of anguish from parents, a lot of stress,” says Javier Cruz, executive director of the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club.

“It’s just been a little frustrating,” says Luis Cruz, a parent.

Cruz is a working parent thankful his son has the Boys and Girls Club during the strike, but has concerns about how long teachers will remain out of the classroom.

“Is it going to be another month? The unknown is more scary than the knowing that there is a strike because how long is the strike going to be?” says Cruz.

It’s a question executive director, Javier Bristol takes day by day. For now, he and his team will go from a strict after-school program to sometimes serving up to100 kids all day during the strike.

“There are long days versus just an after-school program. So it’s more so just making sure that our staff are feeling supported, making sure that they are coming to work every day and are prepared to put a smile on the kids’ faces,” says Bristol.

Teacher negotiations continue Wednesday afternoon at 1:00.

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