The Pinelands Regional and Little Egg Harbor school districts are a microcosm of school districts across the country that are dealing with a shortage of bus drivers, developing mask-wearing policies and trying to remain open in the face of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Melissa McCooley, who thanks to a shared-service agreement serves as the superintendent of schools for both districts, gave cheery reports at the Sept. 14 Pinelands and the Sept. 15 Little Egg Harbor school board meetings.