Andover School Committee reviews final redistricting scenario; posts map for public comment

At a March 12 workshop the Andover School Committee reviewed an additional redistricting scenario prepared by consultants Dillinger Rad and agreed to post the new interactive map for public comment through March 19 ahead of a final presentation and vote at the committee’s March 20 meeting.

The scenario discussed (referred to in committee materials as elementary scenario 6 and middle school scenario 4, or “E6 M4”) would change only the West/High Plain elementary boundary and modify middle school lines so that Sanborn and High Plain would attend Wood Hill Middle School, Bancroft and about 70% of South would go to Doherty Middle School, and the Ballard Vale portion of South would remain elementary at South but send students to West Middle. Consultants presented utilization estimates for the plan — Wood Hill about 60%, Doherty about 80%, and West about 76–77% — and said the map was designed to balance building use while minimizing changes at the elementary level.

Why this matters: The committee said the plan attempts to balance three recurring priorities the community raised in the process — walkability, building utilization and keeping elementary cohorts together as they move to middle school — while acknowledging it cannot fully satisfy all three. Committee members emphasized the impact on students’ daily travel, social ties and the district’s ability to offer consistent programs across facilities.

Consultants’ presentation and community input Nick Stellitano and Katie Tartaglia of Dillinger Rad sketched the additional scenario and said it…