It s unlikely Andover High School students will return to full in-person learning this year.
Assistant Superintendent Sandra Trach told the School Committee Thursday that district officials were preparing a waiver to ask the state if high school students will be mandated to go back before the end of the year.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has mandated elementary students return five days a week starting Monday, April 5 and middle school students return Wednesday, April 28. Andover officials are on target to meet those deadlines, Superintendent Claudia Bach said.Â
The largest issue with returning all Andover students to classrooms full-time comes from the already overcrowded high school. The school was built in the 1960s with the intended maximum capacity of 1,500 students. However, there are about 1,800 students currently enrolled.
Teachers association, district call for targeted approach
By Madeline Hughes mhughes@andovertownsman.com  Mar 11, 2021
Mar 11, 2021
Teachers unions across the Merrimack Valley are celebrating access to the coronavirus vaccine after federal and state officials said educators and other school employees can receive their first COVID-19 shot within the month.
Last week after an announcement from President Joe Biden, CVS pharmacies began opening up appointments to educators and other school staff in the Commonwealth. More appointments were made available starting Thursday, when Gov. Charlie Baker announced eligible to get in line at state-run sites starting March 11.
Thus the hunt for appointments began.
UpdatedMon, Mar 1, 2021 at 10:26 am ET
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Andover kindergarten and first grade students will attend school in person four days per week beginning March 8. (Shutterstock)
ANDOVER, MA Andover s youngest students will attend school in person four days per week beginning March 8, after the administration s plan was approved by the School Committee Thursday.
Kindergarten and first grade students will attend every day but Wednesdays, which will remain at-home learning days, under the approved plan.
Hybrid students will be brought in four days per week first. Remote and hybrid families will both be able to request a model change that week, after which the district will grant requests where possible, officials said at the meeting.
Kindergartners and first graders in Andover will be going back to school four days a week starting March 8, Superintendent Claudia Bach wrote in an email to parents Friday.
Town chooses criteria for next school chief
By Madeline Hughes mhughes@andovertownsman.com Feb 4, 2021
Feb 4, 2021
Andover has chosen the qualities it wants in a new permanent superintendent, bringing the town closer to finding that person.
After hosting 15 focus groups with parents, students and school staff, the districtâs consulting firm, Ray & Associates, took input from those groups to help the School Committee determine the criteria being used as Andover advertises the position.
The consulting firm will recruit candidates until Feb. 28, putting the school district on track to hire a permanent superintendent who will start working July 1, said Molly Schwarzhoff, the firmâs executive vice president.