All over Warren County on Monday, young people had their attention on electronic devices – on official business.

The 4,000 students of Warren County School District returned from their holiday break on Monday.

A small percentage even returned to school buildings.

The administration and school board made the decision to go to a full-virtual delivery starting Dec. 9 through at least the end of the semester. The first day of the district’s third nine weeks will be Tuesday, Jan. 26. That is the first day all Option 1 (in-person) students could return to the buildings.

For the time being, students in some Warren County Career Center programs, students who do not have adequate internet access – even when aided by hot spots provided by the district – and students in some special education programs are the only ones allowed to receive instruction in the school buildings.

Aside from those in the career center, there were about 100 district students in schools on Monday.

Even those who are in the inadequate internet group are not receiving in-person instruction. They are using the internet in the buildings and, like students at home, are in front of computers that are connected with their teachers’.

Allowing students into the schools to use the internet cafes has eliminated many of the technology hurdles facing students.

“We run into an occasional issue with students having internet issues at home, but in most cases it seems to be going well,” Director of Administrative Support Services Gary Weber said. “We have had to work through some issues of hot spot usage. That seems to have dissipated. The principals and (Superintendent) Mrs. (Amy) Stewart did a really good job ahead of this to know who would be impacted and we were prepared for the most part.”

Gov. Tom Wolf’s moratorium on high school athletics expired on Monday and the district’s athletic programs were back in action.

“All winter sports may begin practicing today after school,” Weber said Monday.

The pandemic has not had a major impact on participation. The board members reviewed third- and tenth-day participation numbers at their December meeting. That data is available by visiting the Dec. 21 personnel, athletics, and co-curricular activities committee, through Board Docs, at the wcsdpa.org website.

“Numbers have remained consistent with most of our winter sports,” Weber said. “There were a few sports that we did not offer due to low sign-up numbers.”

While athletics are up and running again, there are still restrictions: “same restrictions as prior to the shutdown,” he said. “Fans will not be permitted at WCSD athletic events. Players and participants may remove face coverings when engaged in cardio activities, scrimmages, and games. Face coverings must be worn at all other times.”