By Mia Occhino ’23
Following the most recent meeting of the Beverly School Committee on Wednesday, March 3rd, changes have officially been made to the current BHS hybrid schedule. The schedule change consists of two main points: beginning March 22nd, all seniors will come to school in person every day; and beginning March 29th, all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be in the building two out of every three days. Live classes will continue to take place in four fifty-minute blocks from 8:15 to 11:50, with shorter online classes resuming at 12:50.
Despite opposition from the teachers’ union, the new plan was voted in 4-3 by the school committee members. Concerns have been raised for the safety of the teachers, and questions arise regarding whether or not state vaccine distribution programs will be effective enough so that all Beverly teachers and staff members are fully vaccinated before increased numbers of students are entering the building every day. Pre-registration for teachers in Massachusetts was opened on March 11, with a limited number of appointments available at seven mass vaccination sites. School staff and educators are now eligible to receive the vaccine from any public vaccination site available in Massachusetts, but the limited number of doses and appointments per week might not allow all Beverly teachers to secure spots before the schedule changes.
This change comes as the adverse effects and benefits of online learning versus live classroom instruction are still being debated and will likely continue to be closely monitored among Beverly students.
*Featured photo by Craig F. Walker, property of Boston Globe.
