The Wood County Special Education Co-op has seen an almost 40% increase in students since the 2017 school year.

Co-op Director Tammy Willis told the Mineola school board Monday that there are another 30 to 40 referrals to the program.

Among those new to the program are nine three-year-olds, compared to none just last year.

“Being able to start school back was huge for us,” instructional facilitator Donya Mooney said.

Not only do those students thrive on the routine of school, but it was also a relief for their parents.

“They were scared to death they wouldn’t get to go back,” she added, after schools had to shut down last March due to COVID-19.

The co-op has had few cases, with three of the 29 full-time staff members contracting the disease along with three of the 72 full-time students on the Quitman campus. (The remaining special education students remain on their home campuses of Wood County schools.)

Mooney said the school lost only 63 total days which also includes students or staff who had to be quarantined due to close contact, since August.