Parents struggle to find child care amid teachers strike in 3 Massachusetts communities; "We're all overwhelmed"
BEVERLY - As schools remain closed in three Massachusetts communities due to a teachers strike, some parents are struggling to find child care for their children.
"We're all overwhelmed"
"We're all overwhelmed," said Sarah Roy, a mother of two at Ayers Ryal Side Elementary School in Beverly.
Since last Friday, she's been juggling her full-time job while also caring for her 6-year-old son Owen and her 11-year-old daughter Annabelle.
"It's hard to focus on one or the other when you're trying to do both at once," she said.
Last Thursday, educators in Beverly announced their decision to go on strike, cancelling school Friday and now Wednesday as well. Teachers in Gloucester and Marblehead are also on strike in hopes of getting a new contract with better pay and other benefits.
"This is a good example to my kids that you should always stand up for what you believe in," said Roy. She told WBZ-TV she fully supports Beverly educators going on strike, despite the fact that it is illegal in Massachusetts. "The fact that they are getting paid so low is so upsetting. It feels like a reflection of our values and that's not what I signed up for. Those aren't my values," she said.
Hundreds on child care
In the past week Roy said she has spent $600 for child care. "That was an unexpected expense, that a lot of people don't have because they're living paycheck to paycheck," she said. The mother of two has hired a babysitter, including local middle schoolers, to watch her children while she works. She says she's also benefitted from free childcare at the Ryal Side Civic Association Center.
"We have 25 kids coming in the morning, 25 kids coming in the afternoon," said Meredith Quinn, Ayers PTO President. She organized the volunteer run child care sessions at the community center so that working parents like herself and Roy can drop their kids off for games and movies.
"We're definitely not teaching or learning, but we're trying to keep the skills sharp while they're out of school."
It is still unclear when school will resume for Beverly students. The Beverly Teacher Association and the School Committee are still negotiating a contract. Until they reach a fair agreement, Roy says this is, "just another reminder that we can do hard things, and we make it work."