Tewksbury Schools Plan April Full Return To In-Person Learning

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury Public Schools will bring all hybrid students in full-time by the end of April, Superintendent Chris Malone said in a letter to the community Friday.

In accordance with state guidelines, elementary students will go first, returning to full in-person learning April 5. Middle and high school students will follow on April 28.

Due to a recent change in state guidance, hybrid learning will not count toward learning time requirements after those dates for elementary and middle school students. There is not yet a deadline for high school students to be in school full time, but the district is grouping them with middle school students.

Under the new state rules, remote learning will only count for families that choose it.

The School Committee approved the district plan March 10, Malone said. Prior to the update to state guidance, district officials had drawn up a phased increase to in-person learning.

The approved plan is available here.

Negotiations with the teachers union are underway and Malone said a survey to parents would go out this week.

"Families will be asked if they want to stay in their currently selected learning mode or if they will wish to change," Malone said. "This commitment is important because it will inform us if staffing needs to be adjusted to service our students. Please know that the new DESE regulatory guidance allows up to four to six weeks for a change to take place after this initial commitment."

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