Andover School Committee Approves Hybrid Reopening Model

ANDOVER, MA — The Andover School Committee approved the district's proposed hybrid reopening model, Monday evening.

The committee voted three to two in favor of the model, with committee members Paul Murphy and Tracey Spruce against. Superintendent Sheldon Berman recommended the hybrid model to the committee.

Murphy and Spruce at one point appeared to have a majority to start the school year fully remote and phase in in-person learning over time, but Lauren Conoscenti, who called the decision "agonizing," ended up voting for the hybrid model.

Committee chair Shannon Scully argued that if the district started remote it would likely stay remote, whereas with a hybrid reopening they could at least start the year partially in person.

In the district's hybrid plan, students will be split into two cohorts which spend either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday learning in person. Each cohort will spend the other three days learning remotely, allowing deep cleaning Wednesdays.

Additional in-person learning will be available for some high-needs students, while fully remote learning is available to all students.

The district's reopening task force is holding a public forum, Thursday at 6 p.m., on AndoverTV.

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