Getting kids caught up from the tremendous amount of classroom time lost in the last year is taking a front-and-center focus for central Illinois administrators as the 2020-21 school year begins to wind down.

Blue Ridge Schools are in the early planning stages planning for a summer school program for students that have fallen behind. On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, Superintendent Dr. Hilary Stanifer told Regional Radio News they are beginning with their high school students for credit recovery. She also notes they could end up offering a spring after-school program. 

According to Dr. Stanifer, they have a bridge program for students going from junior high school to high school. She also indicates they implemented a reading program for their younger students last summer they hope to utilize again this summer.

As students who started the school year in remote learning transition back to in-person, administrators and school leaders all over central Illinois report an adjustment period of catching those students up. Dr. Stanifer says the trends in her district have been very interesting. 

Dr. Stanifer is very thankful to be working in a community that supports education and wants kids to be learning in the classroom. She is also thankful for the staff that is willing to come to school each day.

Blue Ridge staff will finish its vaccine process this week and Dr. Stanifer also points out they will be bringing students to school five days a week beginning on Monday, March 15 with an early dismissal still in effect.