Andover To Request Waiver For High School Full Return

ANDOVER, MA — Andover Public School officials are hoping to delay a return to full in-person learning at the high school, they told the School Committee April 1.

The state has not yet set a deadline for high school full return, but elementary students are already back in classrooms across the state and middle schools will return by the end of April. District officials are worried that there is not enough space to bring the high school in full-time as well.

"We really have a gigantic problem," interim Superintendent Claudia Bach said about overcrowding at Andover High School.

Assistant Superintendent Sandra Trach said the district is preparing to request a waiver from the state, once they are being officially accepted. State officials told the district that they would send a team to examine the situation in Andover.

Even with three-foot distancing, Trach said, only about 15 desks will fit in a high school classroom of 25. To accommodate all students, the district is exploring using the Field House and other spaces for classrooms.

"We would very much welcome and love to see our students back, but we think it's the right thing to do to prepare a waiver," Trach said.

The full meeting is available here from AndoverTV.

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