Students in another Macon County school district will be participating in remote learning out of the Christmas break.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Superintendent of Maroa-Forsyth Schools, Dr. John Ahlemeyer, indicated to Regional Radio News, their Board of Education has elected to have students participate in remote learning when the winter break concludes on January 4. He reminds the community, they started their school year later than most and so this remote learning resumption of school will finish out their first semester. 

According to Dr. Ahlemeyer, bringing students back for a short-term remote learning time will allow their teachers to better focus on all their students rather than have to juggle in-person students and students that are remote.

Many central Illinois school leaders are reporting families of students who have chosen to remote learn struggling and Dr. Ahlemeyer believes this remote learning start to the post-winter break will allow their staff to bring in students who are struggling and give them much-needed extra attention.

Finally, Dr. Ahlemeyer points out they are anticipating a spike in students that will be re-joining the school population from remote learning. He points out this will allow their administration to "redesign" the school schedule. 

As the vaccine rolls out this week, Dr. Ahlemeyer calls it a "game-changer" for schools and looks forward to the combination of the vaccine and more readily available testing, bringing schools back to normal little by little.