By Shravya Sathi
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
As Andover Public Schools move into Stage 2 of reopening, AHS parents have different opinions on the transition and ideas on how to implement more in-person time.
Even though finding a system that works well for everyone will be close to impossible, it is important to remember “the teachers and AHS staff and administrators have been very dedicated to the students,” said Dr. Elizabeth Lentini.
There is no debate that hybrid-remote learning has negatively affected students. From the decrease in social interaction to the decrease in exercise, there are many effects on students. Lentini told ANDOVERVIEW that students “are often feeling down and isolated, and doing high school from their bedrooms has been emotionally very difficult. The limited social connections on a regular weekly basis have been the hardest part of the pandemic for them.”
Kamal Tiku, parent of a junior, added that, “I can see how my child has become increasingly distracted and completing each assignment takes more time because their focus level is changing.”
Students walking into the Dunn Gym for lunch.
In addition to harmful mental effects, parents have felt that remote days, especially in the hybrid model, are disengaging.
“As a parent, I can see a difference in [my son’s] attitude and enthusiasm when it comes to school on his in-person days as opposed to remote days,” said Rhonda Musikar-Rosner, a parent of an AHS student and a previous Medford counselor for 14 years. “What I do see is that on remote days, he is most engaged when the teacher is live and he can engage with his classmates; if the day is totally asynchronous, he is often complaining he is bored with school and feels unchallenged. When he attends in-person, he leaves school with a smile under that mask.”
While everyone has the best interest of their students, there is an array of opinions for the push for in-person school at AHS. Some parents are all for full in-person school, yet many are still uncomfortable with the idea.
These reasons include the small classroom sizes, large number of COVID-19 cases, and overcrowded classrooms. The number one constraint being the current guidelines of six feet of distance between students during eating. Some parents are already uncomfortable with the idea, as even in the hybrid model, certain guidelines are not being strictly enforced, including slipping masks and certain classes in which the teachers are allowing students to move around the classroom.
Parents express they need to see more teachers and students vaccinated before they feel safe sending their children back full time.
“If teachers and staff who want a vaccine can be vaccinated and students (currently 16 and above, and hopefully soon 12 years and above) are vaccinated then full in-person school should not be a risk to the community,” Lentini said. “There is significant immunity generated within two weeks of the first dose of the vaccine.”
Cohort A students leaving school at the end of the day. There is often gatherings of student groups in the lobby and outside after school.
Parents interviewed by ANDOVERVIEW are pushing for more in-person school and agree that while AHSl presents many unique challenges to getting students back full-time, planning and finding creative ways should begin now with the collaboration of parents, administration, staff, teachers, and the School Committee.
“I hope the school district considers using Wednesdays for in-person hybrid student learning this spring,” Lentini said,” Other neighboring school districts have been successful using Wednesdays for in-person hybrid learning. This would increase student in-person learning time and still adhere to guidelines this spring.”
Musikar-Rosner suggestions included the testing of students and staff, following safety protocols, reducing the six feet guideline to three feet wherever possible, and encouraging the use of satellite buildings.
“Perhaps if they went back to the old way of subbing…it may help with the coverage of classrooms,” she said, adding that previously, the protocol allowed for more temporary or part-time substitute teachers, in addition to the permanent subs. Subs were able to browse openings and sign up at any of the buildings on a particular day, and switch from building to building throughout the week. However, the current subbing protocol calls for subs that are committed all five days to one, specific building. Many subs can no longer sub this year because they only work part-time or have to be home with their own children.
While we would all like school to resume as normal, as Musikar-Rosner said, “[We] would like it to be done in a way that is safe for both the students and the staff.”
