Written by Dan Shibilia
On Saturday afternoon, educators from Methuen and Haverhill gathered at the AmVets Post 147 in Haverhill for the Merrimack Valley Public Education Legislative Forum, a three hour event focused on the challenges facing public schools in Haverhill and Methuen.
Hosted by the Haverhill and Methuen Education Associations, the forum brought together classroom teachers, specialists, and education advocates to discuss funding disparities, staffing shortages, student needs, and legislative priorities. The message of the day was clear from the moment attendees walked in wearing red in solidarity. Create change. Do not wait for it.
The urgency behind the forum is rooted in recent history. Both Haverhill and Methuen are still recovering from consecutive, deeply contentious budget cycles that left educators and families feeling unsettled and uncertain about the future. In Methuen in particular, net school spending has too often been treated as a ceiling to hit rather than a floor to build upon, reinforcing a long standing pattern of underinvestment in public education.
Year after year, schools have been asked to stretch limited resources further while student needs continue to grow. With the Governor’s proposed budget and Chapter 70 funding numbers now public, educators appear determined not to repeat the familiar pattern of waiting until late spring to react. By beginning these conversations now, well before final local budget decisions are made, teachers are signaling that proactive advocacy is essential if their communities are going to break the cycle and create a more stable, adequately funded path forward for students.
The program featured opening remarks followed by a panel of educators from both districts. Each speaker shared firsthand accounts from their classrooms, describing what they see every day and the pressures that continue to mount. Their stories centered on increasing student needs, limited resources, and the strain placed on educators trying to meet those needs.
Speakers talked about chronic underfunding and the inequities that arise when school budgets depend so heavily on local wealth. They described special education demands that continue to grow while staffing levels struggle to keep pace. Mental health needs were repeatedly raised as a critical concern, with educators explaining that students are coming to school with more complex emotional and behavioral challenges than ever before.
One Haverhill education showed a sign she made during their strike last year that still rings true today. The sign read, “Your MA zip code should not determine student success.” The message resonated throughout the room and captured the central theme of the afternoon. Students in gateway cities and working class communities often face steeper obstacles, while schools work tirelessly to secure the resources necessary to give every child a fair shot.
Panelists also spoke about recruitment and retention challenges. Districts are competing in a tight labor market for qualified teachers, paraprofessionals, and specialists. Educators described the difficulty of filling positions and the impact vacancies have on classroom stability and student support.
While the tone of the event carried urgency, it also reflected determination. Organizers and panelists emphasized that meaningful change requires collaboration between educators, families, local officials, and state lawmakers. The goal is not simply to highlight problems, but to push for practical solutions that strengthen public education across the Merrimack Valley.
The afternoon concluded with informal conversations over refreshments, but the advocacy clearly will not end there. For those in attendance, the message was simple and direct. Public education is foundational to the health of the community, and ensuring that opportunity is not defined by geography will require sustained attention and action.
The educators who gathered made it clear they are ready to continue that work but culture created over many budget cycles can't be changed by the teachers alone. They need the help of the community.
Below our some videos from the event. Others were streamed live on our Facebook page (although the service was atrocious).
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rxPiOIPmZucUf8KDdh9OLqZ5AD-QY6p8
