Despite initial struggles like all schools during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Hancock students’ academic performances are above the national average. Since then the school has become more technologically proficient with electronic and online resources. (Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

Nearly five years ago the Copper Country began shutting itself down in regards to almost all services and businesses to slow the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Of all services that were impacted, schooling was one of the most crucial to continue moving forward, thanks to the need to educate the next generation.

Many schools resorted to online learning, and once it was deemed safe to return to gatherings, there was still a six-foot space and mask requirement to help alleviate spreading the virus. Schools underwent changes and the effects of those changes are still felt today, though there are also elements of education that have returned to pre-lockdown normal.

Superintendent Chris Salani of Hancock Public Schools said that many schools across the country are still having to catch up with learning during the initial months of the lockdown. Lower elementary students lost vital time which personalized and face-to-face interactions were needed to assist learning in English and math. 

There were fewer opportunities for individualized assistance, and this could make things difficult for students and faculty. Even when students could return, some struggled with acclimating back into social spaces. However things have improved since, with students performing above the national average in terms of academic achievement.

The school has also changed in terms of the tools used in education. After state and federal elevated the school technologically, students and faculty have access to more tools and understanding of how to use them.

“The school has a one-to-one ratio for chrome books to students,” Salani said. “There’s a step a little bit away from old school textbooks. The same resources are there but some are now digital only.”

Houghton-Portage Township Schools have similar experiences with Superintendent Anders Hill saying that, if anything, what the pandemic taught the school was to be flexible no matter the situation.

The youngest grades during the height of the lockdowns appeared to have the hardest time adjusting, though Hill expressed that Houghton-Portage students had a quick bounce-back.

“Our younger students are resilient,” he said. “The kids are thankful to be back in school and those who went through the lockdowns I think appreciate it better.”

Like Hancock, Houghton-Portage seems to have gotten more technologically proficient with Hill stating that faculty learned more tools to utilize in the classroom, such as video creation and editing.

“Anything you go through that’s hard you’re going to learn from it,” Hill said. “Calm seas don’t make skillful sailors. We all grew as educators during that time.”