Marblehead Teacher Contract Talks Break Down Ahead Of New School Year

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Teacher contract talks broke off Tuesday night as the School Committee accused the Marblehead Education Association of walking away from the bargaining table during a break requested by the union.

The School Committee Bargaining Subcommittee said in a statement Tuesday night that the MEA informed it that was "unilaterally adjourning the negotiations immediately" during the 10th bargaining session and just days before the teacher contract is set to expire.

The bargaining session had been dedicated to teacher contracts after the School Committee requested state mediation amid what it called an impasse with the custodian union earlier this week.

This was the last negotiating session scheduled before the start of the new school year and before the expiration of the current deal.

"The Marblehead School Committee deeply values all of its employees, students and community and will continue to commit the time necessary to reach a fair contract," the School Committee Bargaining Sub-Committee said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)