Interim Superintendent Reverses Course, Will Allow Some Extracurriculars Amid Teachers' Strike

The interim superintendent at Marblehead (Mass.) High School, John Robidoux, has reversed course, saying he will now allow some school activities to proceed this weekend amid an ongoing teachers strike. 

According to the Marblehead Current, Robidoux gave the green light to the MHS football game Friday night, the MHS cross country all-state meet on Saturday, a cheerleading competition and a field trip to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. All of the activities slated to proceed will do so with non-union staff and coaches. 

Robidoux sent a press release Thursday just before noon. 

“After taking time to do my due diligence and meet with the athletic director and our administrative team, I have determined that we can equitably and safely allow for high school athletic and extracurricular activities to take place as scheduled this weekend,” Robidoux wrote. “We will be utilizing non-teacher, non-union personnel to support these activities and appreciate their assistance in ensuring student participation.”

The move by Robidoux comes after Marblehead parents filed a lawsuit to bring back extracurricular activities during the strike. The parents were seeking a court injunction needed to lift the ban on extracurriculars. 

“Our teachers who have roles as coaches or in other after-school capacities cannot pick and choose which part of their jobs they want to perform," Robidoux had previously said. "Being in the classroom should be their first priority. They made the choice to illegally strike. We wish they hadn’t but that’s the reality. We hope this strike ends expeditiously to minimize disruption to teaching and students' learning.’’