North Shore teachers expected in court as classrooms stay dark [Video]

Students in three North Shore communities are staying home Tuesday as their teachers remain on strike with no deal on contracts.Educators in Beverly, Gloucester and Marblehead are pushing for extended leave, more safety precautions in schools, and higher wages. Both sides accuse each other of drawing out negotiations.”We have reason to believe management of Beverly, Gloucester and Marblehead are working together to delay settlements of our contracts,” said Beverly Teachers Association Chair Julia Brotherton. “We know there’s some conversation between the communities, so it has to complicate things,” said Kathleen Clancy, Gloucester School Committee chair. Both the Beverly and Gloucester teachers unions are expected in court Tuesday and could face stiff fines as their strikes continue.Classes in Marblehead are also canceled as unions and school committees work with mediators to resolve the strikes.Leaders in Gloucester and Marblehead say the proposals from their respective teachers unions are unaffordable and would lead …