Area schools have recently finished a school year unlike any of them have ever experienced. 

The COVID-19 pandemic began last year and the Perry Community School District began to navigate how they would perform school while also keeping students safe. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks says it was a difficult year to try and get through. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of all the people that were part of Perry Community Schools because we did make it through a difficult year and actually thrived through that year. We hit a sweet spot in that we offered quality in school instruction every single day and we also offered that online instruction with our staff and it helped to get out at two o’clock.”

Wicks tells Raccoon Valley Radio one of the most difficult aspects was facing the fear surrounding the pandemic and the COVID-19 virus. 

“When you are dealing with something so tricky, the unknown was out there and people had to gain confidence that we were doing the right things and doing the very best that we could.”

Wicks says another difficult part was the technology that came into play as part of making sure they could offer online instruction for remote students as well.