Andover To Develop Three Back-To-School Plans, Hold Public Forum

ANDOVER, MA — Andover officials are awaiting more guidance from the state on school reopening, but Superintendent Sheldon Berman called the initial guidance issued Thursday "a good first step toward bringing our students and staff safely back to school in the fall."

The state guidance requires that all districts draw up three plans for the fall: in-person schooling, remote schooling and a hybrid-model.

"As the public health crisis might change and we are still in a pandemic, having these plans will prepare us for what DESE and health experts will direct us to later this summer," Berman noted.

But there remain outstanding questions, he said.

"The opportunity to assess the physical space of our classrooms does increase the likelihood we will be able to achieve an in-person return for our elementary and middle schools," Berman said. "For our high school students and staff, we will need further guidance to determine the degree we may attend in-person."

Districts are encouraged to repurpose areas like auditoriums and libraries as extra classroom space, to allow for physical distancing.

Transportation is another area that the district is awaiting more information on. The guidance requires mask wearing on buses, but says little about the problem bus capacity presents for physical distancing.

The district is also reviewing community feedback from a survey and plans to host a public forum later in the summer. The date and time have not been announced.

The guidance also says the state will make funding available to school districts to adapt to the virus.

"The additional funding being provided by the Governor and the Commissioner will greatly assist Andover Public Schools," Berman said. "This funding will supplement our need to protect our teachers and possibly reduce class size. The funding will also help us acquire the PPE and technology which may be needed to meet the requirements of re-opening.”

Here's what we know now about the reopening of Massachusetts schools:

• Andover Superintendent Sheldon Berman's letter to the school community
• School In MA During Coronavirus: Your Questions Answered
• MA School Reopening: Masks, Remote Learning Plan Required

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.