The main union of school principals in France, SNPDEN-UNSA, formally requested the government to begin negotiations on Wednesday, October 7. This came as high school students continued their protests, with principals now joining them in criticizing worsening working conditions and supporting the students' demands. The union declared a national social alert, a step meant to pressure the government into entering talks and potentially leading to more significant actions like mass strikes. Nicolas Bonnet, national secretary of SNPDEN-UNSA and a school principal himself, stated that the alert aims to force the Minister of National Education to respond to the growing concerns. The union representative outlined several reasons behind the decision, citing a series of challenges faced by schools in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. These included extreme heat during exams, wildfires, computer failures that disrupted preparations for the school year, and recent flooding. On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, October 7, heavy rains caused flooding in several high schools in Blanquefort, Libourne, and Toulouse-Lautrec in Bordeaux. Bonnet noted that many of the students' demands align with those of the principals, including a lack of resources, overcrowded classrooms, limited flexibility in managing school operations, and the urgent need for building renovations. As most schools resumed classes on Wednesday, student anger remained high, with ongoing partial blockages and demonstrations. In response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a half-day dedicated to "internal democracy," allowing students to voice their concerns. The Minister of Education, Edouard Geffray, said this initiative would apply to all schools in France. However, Bonnet criticized the government for not listening to educators for years, stating that the current situation is out of control because of this lack of attention. His comments sparked confusion and frustration among affected unions, who pointed out that such efforts should only proceed once school safety and stability are ensured. The government launched a national consultation on Monday, October 5, through the Agora platform, which will remain open until October 23. This initiative allows the public to provide input on various policy issues. Meanwhile, SNPDEN-UNSA emphasized that any further actions would depend on the successful organization of elections for school committees, which were originally scheduled for this week. The union remains committed to supporting principals who have faced threats and physical harm during the ongoing protests.