North Andover School Committee Approves Hybrid Plan, Full-Day HS

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — The North Andover School Committee voted to reopen with a modified hybrid model, Monday evening.

Diverging from the district leadership's plan, the committee voted to have high school students spend two full days per week in school, rather than two half days. The elementary and middle school students would also spend two days per week in school.

The committee voted three to one in favor of the full day amendment, with David Torrisi and Chair Helen Pickard against. Pickard was the sole vote against the hybrid model: she advocated a remote reopening.

Pickard argued a remote start would provide the most certainty and the most learning.

Under the district's hybrid plan, students first grade and up will spend two days per week learning in person, either Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday. Wednesdays will be fully remote. Kindergarten students will be split into a.m. and p.m. cohorts.

District officials recommended half days for the high school to allow live instruction of the remote cohort in the afternoon.

The committee's vote asked the superintendent to inform the state and parents that the district would be opening under a hybrid model, but to continue developing the plan and to explore changes as conditions change.

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