Andover High School To Return Full Time May 17

ANDOVER, MA — Andover HIgh School will return to full-time in-person learning May 17, district officials confirmed in a letter to families Monday.

Superintendent Claudia Bach and High School Principal Caitlin Brown said the hybrid model will be discontinued on May 17, as required by the state.

District officials had discussed requesting a waiver from the high school return deadline but ultimately decided against it. Under the state rules, remote learning will only count toward learning time requirements for students that request it.

Andover High School will continue to operate the remote learning academy for students that choose it.

"While the May 17 return to the AHS campus will not feel like a complete and immediate return to pre-2020 normalcy, it is nonetheless a significant step forward for our district and our students," the officials said.

Guidelines including three feet minimum physical distancing and mask-wearing will remain in place, the officials said.

To accommodate full in-person learning with distancing requirements, classes will take place in a variety of locations, including the field house and outdoor tents.

"We estimate that up to one-third of classroom activities will be outdoors (weather permitting), in tents or in alternate locations within the high school in addition to the typical classrooms," Brown and Bach wrote.

A registration form for families to select in-person or remote learning was due to be sent out shortly and is due by Friday. More information is expected mid-week.

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