Tewksbury School Committee Selects Hybrid Reopening Model

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury Public Schools will plan for a hybrid reopening, after the school committee voted Thursday to select it as the district's starting model.

The committee voted 3 to 2 to approve the district's three model reopening plan and pick the hybrid model as the starting plan. In a hybrid model, students will spend part of their time at school and part of their time learning remotely.

The committee also voted to make Sept. 16 the start date for students.

Committee members, and Superintendent Chris Malone noted that the district's plans could change, based on the virus conditions. As of the committee's Wednesday workshop, the town has only six active coronavirus cases and has a positive test rate below one.

The reopening plan is available here.

The specific hybrid plan has not been finalized. At the Wednesday meeting, district officials said both parents and students preferred a hybrid model where students, split into two cohorts, spend two days per week in person and two days learning remotely. Wednesdays would bring both groups together for remote meetings while the schools undergo a deep cleaning.

Malone shared additional information on feedback on the plans ahead of the committee vote. The majority of the district's reopening task force voted in favor of a hybrid reopening: 14 picked hybrid, over five votes for in-person reopening and three for remote reopening.

Malone also reiterated survey data showing a split on reopening: Parents largely supported in-person or hybrid reopening while teachers supported remote reopening. He also raised challenges with full in-person reopening such as meals and transportation.

Committee members John Stadtman and Shannon Demos voted against hybrid reopening. James Cutelis made the motion to pick hybrid reopening.

The full meeting is available here, via TewksburyTV.

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