The district had in-person classes for most of the last academic year, and the results are showing, according to Superintendent Brad Anderson. He said grades are rising. Measurements of literacy and mathematics skills are also improving.

“I’m going to categorize 2021, and I know it sounds like a cliche, as a rebound year for us,” Anderson said.

He said the improvements in various measures of student achievement show the value of in-person instruction.

South Central Calhoun is also “very immersed” in social and emotional learning, Anderson said. Some counselors have been added and the rest of the faculty has received training on those topics.

The school district is a member of BRIC, which is an acronym for Building Resilient Individuals and Communities. The BRIC team includes many other organizations, such as the Calhoun County Attorney’s Office and the local public health department.

While the pandemic likely impacted the social and emotional health of the students, Anderson said there are actually a number of environmental factors creating an impact.

“I think kids are just coming to school with different needs,” he said.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2022, Anderson said the district is committed to maintaining the current level of programs.

And for students in the high school, the goal is to provide more program choices to prepare them for careers and higher education.

“Our big push is allowing more choice, more opportunities,” Anderson said. “It’s fairly prescribed until you get to the high school and that’s where we want to provide some choices.”

The district will also be recruiting to replace a number of retiring teachers. The retirees who will be leaving the district have a collective 173 years of experience.

Anderson said the goal is to “put the best in front of our kids.”