First school vaccinations held at Odessa

ODESSA--In a test case to see how vaccination clinics would perform at schools, 80 percent of Odessa-Montour Central School District employees got their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine in the school gymnasium Wednesday, Jan. 13. District Superintendent Chris Wood discussed the clinic with the board of education during their monthly meeting Thursday, Jan. 14, and said things went smoothly.
"80 percent of our staff got their first round of vaccinations and I believe we were one of the first school districts in the region to get them," Wood said. "The (county health department) wanted to start out with a small district and I must say it went incredibly well."
Wood said the department of health, in conjunction with Schuyler Hospital, informed the district they could host the clinic the Saturday before it was hosted.
"We said yes, then we did signups and they came and held the clinic in our gymnasium," Wood said. "It's a great start for us."
Wood added that he was very thankful for everyone who made the clinic possible.
"I am so thankful for the department of health with all the work they have done in this unprecedented time and how flexible they have been along with Schuyler County administrators and Schuyler Hospital... they were awesome to work with and it's important that we thank them for all they do," Wood stated.
"Schuyler Hospital is proud to work with Schuyler County Public Health to provide COVID-19 vaccines to our community as we look toward the light at the end of the tunnel of this pandemic," said Rebecca Gould, Schuyler Hospital President. "The Odessa-Montour Vaccination Clinic is the largest we have offered to date, providing the vaccine to 180 residents in Phase 1A and 1B."
Wood also discussed preparations as roughly 60 more students are set to return to full-time in-person learning on Feb. 2 after starting the school year in remote.
"We are currently at 600 in-person and about 155 remote," Wood added. "As of the second of February, we will be 660 in-person and 100 remote give or take."
As it stands, this opportunity represented the last chance for remote students to go back to in-person learning.
"If (parents) haven't already notified us they will be remote until the end of the year," Wood said.
Wood briefly touched on financial matters, saying he has heard assurances from the state that funding for the current capital improvement project will be forthcoming and the work can be done. However, as it relates to the district budget for next year, Wood said the district remains in a holding pattern as it waits to see how much funding the state will be able to provide.
"Mentally we are prepared for (funding cuts), but so far we have heard that there is a possibility for good news," Wood said.