Schools in Upstate Reopening After Tropical Storm Helene
Greenwood, South Carolina—It’s been over a week since the winds and rains of Tropical Storm Helene swept through the Upstate, leaving a trail of damage in its wake. But there’s finally some good news for families eager to return to normal: many schools are gearing up to reopen!
School Districts Set to Welcome Back Students
On Tuesday, local districts will begin reopening, following guidance from the state’s Department of Education. The department recently sent a memo to superintendents clarifying school calendars and E-Learning guidelines. According to the memo, all districts must typically establish a school calendar with 190 days, including a minimum of 180 instructional days spread across at least nine months. Additionally, they have three designated make-up days to utilize in cases of interruptions.
For instance, if a local school board wishes to waive up to three missed days, they can do so with a majority vote, but only after making up at least three full days or an equivalent number of hours. If more than three days need to be waived, the district can request the State Board of Education for additional leniency due to extreme weather or other disruptions.
What’s the Latest on School Reopenings?
Many Upstate universities have already resumed operations. For example, Spartanburg Methodist College is reopening on Tuesday, with classes kicking off the following day. Meanwhile, Winthrop University will hold a virtual learning day tomorrow.
For families in Greenville County, schools are scheduled to open on Wednesday, October 9th. The district has assured families that they will be contacted directly if there is a need for temporary bus stops as a result of the storm’s aftermath.
Assessing the Damage
Just last Friday, 300 dedicated team members from Greenville County Schools traveled an impressive 9,000 miles to inspect the conditions in their communities. The results? A staggering 1,500 issues were identified, ranging from downed power lines to blockages caused by debris, closed bridges, and even sinkholes!
On Monday, these teams reassessed the situation and found over 1,000 remaining issues. “Despite all the hard work over the weekend and today, we need a bit more time to update everything and communicate with families,” the district said in a clear press statement.
Changes to the School Calendar
In light of the storm’s impacts, Greenville County Schools will extend the first quarter’s end date by five days from October 11 to October 21. This extension aims to ensure that students can make up for any missed content. However, there’s good news about the second quarter’s end date; it remains unchanged, scheduled for December 20.
Other Districts Taking Action
As for other school districts in the area, Spartanburg Districts 1 and 2 will return to their regular schedules on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Districts 5, 6, and 7 will open with a two-hour delay, while all Anderson County Districts will stay closed until Wednesday, with October 7 and 8 marked as student holidays.
As schools make their comeback, it’s clear that the community is rallying to support one another during this time of recovery. Everyone is eager to return to classrooms, get back to learning, and do it safely. Here’s hoping the Upstate continues to bounce back quickly!
