Express Desk Reporter

Max Harrison-Caldwell

The union is considering striking for a raise.

Brian Hollinger, a leader of the parent coalition behind Dragon Gate Academy, said the group will appeal to the state. “We are not dead yet.”

“We were anxious to come today,” one mother told The Standard as she dropped off her kids.

About 50,000 students — from transitional kindergarten to high school — return to classrooms Monday.

The union chose to escalate matters quickly to avoid a repeat of the 2022 payroll crisis.