As the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation last year, some places continued to offer essential services. 

The Director of Perry’s Academic, Cultural, and Enrichment Services (PACES) Mary Hillman says last year there was a great need for PACES to be open, especially for the essential working families. 

“There was just a great need for us to be open. It was really causing a hardship financially for families, a lot of stress. We have a lot of essential working families and that would be in the healthcare field, agricultural field also at the Tyson plant and we really wanted to be a support which has been the purpose of the program.”

Hillman tells Raccoon Valley Radio there were many safety measures in place including not letting adults into the building as well as separating classrooms from one another including at recess and other times. 

“I think with all those things in place we made it through the summer without anyone ending up positive or in quarantine and were able to be open nine full weeks at twelve hours a day which was pretty phenomenal to me thanks to my staff and I think parents also being careful.”

Hillman says she is also excited to be able to bring back field trips this year.