Andover High School students and staff will go back to pre-COVID rules for passing times before classes — a change that should have been implemented at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
“This fall, the passing time should have been adjusted to the pre-COVID schedule,” AHS Principal Caitlin Brown said in a note to AHS families Thursday. “This adjustment was not made.”
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“The shift was made after the oversight ‘was brought to the attention of the high school administration’,” the note said. Brown said she would be available to meet with students and answer questions about the shift at 3 p.m. Friday.
After students returned to in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, AHS changed rules to reduce close contact in hallways. The rules included one-way walking in hallways and staggered bells to reduce the number of students in hallways.
“When it was brought to the attention of the high school administration, we made the adjustment to the traditional scheduled time of 4 minutes between passing,” Brown said. “We understand that this is an adjustment for students and staff.”
File photo.
Complete text of Principal Caitlin Brown’s March 2 note to AHS families:
To Families and Students of Andover High School,
During the pandemic, Andover High School took measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff. The measures included one-way directions in hallways, two bells for passing time between classes to allow for a timed release and an increase of passing time to allow for the two passing bells. Over the course of the last two years, we have been making adjustments to return to the pre-COVID schedule.
Prior to COVID restrictions, the AHS schedule included passing times of 4 minutes. This fall, the passing time should have been adjusted to the pre-COVID schedule. This adjustment was not made. When it was brought to the attention of the high school administration, we made the adjustment to the traditional scheduled time of 4 minutes between passing.
We understand that this is an adjustment for students and staff. I will be available on Friday March 3 at 3pm to meet with students to answer any questions they may have about the pre-COVID schedule.
Caitlin Brown
Principal
Andover High School
80 Shawsheen Road
Andover, MA 01810