The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from the administrator at VisionWay Christian School in Taylorville, during their weekly meeting Tuesday at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  

Mrs. Glenda Tolliver reported on how she worked with VisionWay staff, and parents to respond to an ever-changing coronavirus landscape since last March in order to provide the best possible education opportunities for their students.

Tolliver told the Kiwanis Club that for most of last spring, remote learning tools were used with teachers using video presentations to introduce students to new materials with parents overseeing their progress. What she heard from parents was a desire to have their children back in the classroom.

So during the summer, Tolliver worked with teachers, parents and the local health department to make it possible for the students to return to the classroom last fall. In addition to standard cleaning and disinfecting protocols, there was to be no mixing of grades for any school activities, including lunch periods, physical education and chapel. 

They also hired a school nurse for the year. For those parents who preferred not to send their children back to the classroom, remote learning was provided. Eighteen of the school's 198 children chose remote learning.

Two sixth grade VisionWay students, Laila Hancock and Lucy Franklin, also shared some of their experiences since returning to the classroom, at the Kiwanis Club meeting. Both said it was so much better having the teachers available to answer questions and present their lessons in person. They were also glad to be back to school with their friends.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at their new meeting location, the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.