District keeping students on track during pandemic

COLDWATER - While Gov. Mike DeWine has asked school districts around the state to make up for any lost or delayed learning due to the pandemic, Coldwater Exempted Village Schools educators reportedly already have worked to keep students on track.

State officials have been working to get K-12 students back into the classroom by March 1. In December, 45% of state students were attending school remotely. According to a release from the governor's staff on Tuesday, less than 15% of students are still taking completely remote classes. Despite the progress, the pandemic has still taken a toll on academics.

School districts have been asked to create and submit plans no later than April 1 to the General Assembly that would address learning delays, but superintendent Jason Wood said his district has a leg up on other districts in this regard.

More students have attended in-person classes in Coldwater compared with other districts. In August, the district reported 53 students would take their first semester remotely.

Wood reported the district had already been making some efforts to orient students who have returned to in-person classes. Most of the district's "catching up" involved students moving from one school building to another rather than the materials they covered.

He thanked staff and students for a job well done in following COVID-19 mandates, which allowed the district to continue in-person classes for the second semester.

Coldwater staff looking to receive a COVID-19 vaccine can attend one of two clinics, which will be held Friday in St. Henry and Saturday in Celina. District officials have been working with Mercer County Educational Service Center and Kaup Pharmacy personnel to administer the vaccines.