North Andover Schools Prioritizing In-Person Reopening

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover Public Schools officials are prioritizing bringing students back to school in person in the fall, Superintendent Gregg Gilligan said in an update to the school community, Saturday.

"Our goal for the fall is to return as many students as we can in person," Gilligan said. "As long as we can do so in a safe manner."

State guidelines require that every district draw up three plans for fall reopening: in-person, remote and hybrid. Which plans will be used will likely depend on the extent of the outbreak in Massachusetts in August.

State guidelines also require face coverings for students in grade two and up and minimum of three feet distancing between students, for in-person learning. District officials are studying how many students could fit in the town's schools with 3 feet distancing.

Gilligan also gave an overview of how the district is making its plans and what it is focusing on. The district has conducted focus groups and surveys and has formed working groups including a parent group, school-based teams, and a public health team.

The district has ordered 2,400 Chromebooks and applied for a state technology grant in preparation for potential hybrid or remote learning, to ensure equal access to all students.

The three plans will be presented to the School Committee on July 30 and submitted to the state the following day.

The full update is available here from NorthAndoverCAM.

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