In the midst of the ongoing teachers' strike that has led to seven consecutive school days of class cancellations in Newton, Massachusetts, a family has taken legal action to urge a judge to intervene and send the school district back to school. Lital Asher-Dotan, a mother of three students attending Newton Public School, filed a motion on Monday seeking assistance from the Middlesex Superior Court judge.

Her motion argues that the strike is not only disrupting the educational rights of students but also interfering with their state constitutional right to receive a public education. Approximately 20 other families have submitted letters of support for the motion, emphasizing the impact the strike is having on their children's academic and social well-being.

The strike, which commenced on January 19th and persisted throughout last week, remained unresolved following weekend negotiations, resulting in yet another day of canceled classes on Monday. It is worth noting that striking by teachers is illegal in Massachusetts, though educators from five communities, including Brookline, Malden, Haverhill, Woburn, and Andover, have engaged in strike action for at least one day since May 2022.

Newton Public Schools currently holds the largest enrollment among those school districts affected by the strike, with nearly 12,000 students affected by the ongoing dispute. The Newton Teachers Association, responsible for the strike, has already faced court-imposed fines totaling $425,000. Additionally, the judge has ruled that an extra $50,000 will be added for each day the strike persists.

Asher-Dotan emphasizes in her motion that the lack of structured learning and continuity severely hampers her children's progress, as regular practice is crucial for retaining and understanding new concepts. She further states that the strike's adverse effects extend beyond the classroom, causing academic and developmental setbacks and isolating children from their social circles.

With her motion, Asher-Dotan requests an immediate end to the strike, hoping to restore normalcy to the education system. While the two sides met on Monday and engaged in negotiations for an hour, no significant progress was reported. In a show of support for the striking teachers, rallies were held by educators and their supporters outside Newton City Hall. The union is expected to announce an update on the negotiation progress at 7:30 p.m. outside the Newton Education Center.

As the standoff between the Newton Teachers Association and the school district continues, the parents and students affected eagerly await the court's decision on whether their plea for intervention will be successful.