Woburn School Committee Votes To Reopen With Hybrid Model

WOBURN, MA — The Woburn School Committee voted to reopen the schools with a hybrid model, Tuesday evening.

The committee voted six to one in favor of Superintendent Matthew Crowley's recommended reopening model, with Andrew Lipsett the lone vote against. Lipsett advocated beginning the year remotely and phasing in the hybrid model over time.

In the hybrid model, students will be split into two cohorts which each spend two days per week learning in person, either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday, and the other three days learning remotely. Both cohorts will be remote on Wednesdays.

Some high needs students will spend four days per week learning in person, while remote learning is available to all students.

Crowley recommended the hybrid model but said the district was prepared to put into place any model the committee voted for. He said the comprehensive hybrid plan would be released as early as Wednesday, following the committee's vote.

"All we're doing is approving that we'll reopen our buildings on September 16," Committee Chair Ellen Crowley noted.

Committee members noted that the city is in a good position with regards to the virus; Gov. Charlie Baker named Woburn a "green community" that should reopen in person in a new color-coded map, Tuesday.

Public comments were largely in favor of remote reopening, although Mayor Scott Galvin spoke in favor of the hybrid model.

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