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Students Protest Planned Strike in Millville

MILLVILLE — While many school districts in our area had the day off Friday in observance of Good Friday, students at the Millville Area School District ha...
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MILLVILLE -- While many school districts in our area had the day off Friday in observance of Good Friday, students at the Millville Area School District had a full day of classes.

It's because the district needs to make up school days from when its teachers went on strike for 27 days last October.  And on Monday, the teachers are scheduled to strike again.

That is why around 70 students, including Kaleb Michael, held a "sit-in" at the high school, which was their way of protesting the strike.

"Well we just all walked down there right after homeroom and the principal and superintendent were there," Michael said.

"They asked questions and voiced their concerns and the high school principal and myself were available to listen to them and to answer questions that we could," said Millville Area Superintendent Cynthia Jenkins.

Jenkins said the district needs 180 days to get its school year in.  As of now, the last day of school is scheduled for June 30.  She said she is not sure how long the teachers will be legally allowed to go on strike this time, but believes it won't be longer than one week.  Even so, Kaleb Michael and his father have strong feelings about the planned strike.

"Well I think they need to just get back to work.  Seriously, instead of just walking around on the streets, get back to work and teach me something," Michael said.

"I think they need to come back down to reality.  There are some great teachers there. My children like them," said Kurt Michael of Millville.

Michael says he is proud of the students for holding the sit-in.

"I think that's the students' right to protest and learn it when you're young.  It doesn't get any better as you get older, so I mean stand up for what you feel."

The superintendent said students may even need to go to school on Saturdays to make up school days.

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