Andover Teachers Could Face Further Discipline

ANDOVER, MA — The three Andover High School Social teachers who were placed on leave last month returned to school Tuesday, but could face unpaid suspensions of up to 30 days beginning pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing with Principal Phillip T. Conrad scheduled for later this week. School officials declined comment because it is a personnel matter, but did say the disciplinary action did not involve students.

In letters delivered last week, two of the teachers were told they were facing 20-day suspensions, while a third was told he would be suspended for 30 days. Andover Patch first reported the teachers had been placed on leave on Saturday after parents began discussing the extended absences of the teachers and raising questions about why they had not been notified by the school.

Parents and students say they have received few details from school officials on why the three teachers have not been in school. A student who asked another teacher if the three suspended teachers were "on strike" was told that they were "on leave" and that the teacher could not say anything else about the matter.

On Tuesday, the teachers were back in school, according to the Eagle-Tribune. It was the first time the three had been in class since March 19. Patch has been unable to reach the three teachers for comment. One student told Patch that students had become so concerned about the unexplained absences that they tried to look up the home addresses and phone numbers of the teachers.

"People got in hot water for doing that," the student said.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).