Many of the 23 teachers who Andover Public Schools laid off last spring were back in the classroom when schools reopened Wednesday.
“We are pleased that a significant number of our educators whose positions were affected by the FY25 budget process are back in the district,” district spokesperson Nicole Kieser said. “Any teachers who lost their position as a result of a reduction in force were recalled. Additionally, many who had lost their positions through the non-renewal process applied for and were re-hired to other positions that became available.”
Kieser did not have specific numbers, as many of the hirings were still being finalized as of Thursday afternoon.
The layoffs came after APS reevaluated class size and student-to-teacher ratios. Even with the layoffs, APS said, class size would have fallen within district guidelines. In May, annual town meeting amended the APS budget in an attempt to preserve the positions. That forced a special town meeting in June.
Special town meeting shot down a warrant article that would have used $1.6 million in free cash and an estimated $283,000 in additional state education aide to close a budget gap and, some supporters had hoped, allow the school committee to rehire employees who had been laid off for the 2024-25 school year.