This Wednesday will be the second scheduled “early out” in an effort to give a mental break to teachers and staff in the Sigourney and Pekin school districts.

Shared Superintendent Dave Harper says both districts will dismiss classes at 1:00 p.m. this Wednesday to allow staff a breather in the midst of a school year made challenging by COVID-19. He says teachers can use the extra free time as they see fit and will not be required to stay at school. Harper says meeting the mental health needs of teachers and support staff is as important as keeping them healthy physically, “Absolutely, our sub pool is not at a very deep level, so if we lose our primary teachers, we’re in a world of hurt. So we want to make sure we’re meeting their needs and keeping them as healthy as possible and making sure they can keep providing a good educational experience for kids in our classrooms. And keep their sanity.”

Both school districts have conducted onsite learning since the school year began.