Greenville Schools Plan Safe Reopening Following Hurricane Helene After Week of Closures

Greenville Schools Focus on Safe Reopening After Hurricane Helene

Greenville, S.C. – It’s been a challenging week for the families and educators in Greenville County as schools have been closed since Hurricane Helene swept through the area on September 27. Everyone’s on edge, wondering: When can schools safely reopen?

Surveying the Landscape

This past Friday, a dedicated team of 145 pairs of school district workers hit the roads to survey travel routes for students, families, and faculty, attempting to map out safe paths for the upcoming weeks. With over 106 school locations scattered across 800 square miles, the task at hand was no small feat!

Safety First

Superintendent Dr. Burke Royster shared some insightful thoughts on the challenge. “If we, all of a sudden, put 78,000 students on the road, either in buses or cars and 12,000 employees, what may that do as far as being disruptive to energy linemen, public service workers and emergency responders?” he questioned. Safety is key! We need to make sure it’s safe for everyone.

Every Road Counts

Dr. Bryan Skipper, one of the drivers on this mission, noted that it’s not just about the kids who ride the bus—there are thousands who depend on their parents or drive themselves. “That’s 32,000 students riding the bus, but we’ve got another 40,000 who have to get to school by car. We had to look at every single road in the county where our students live,” Skipper explained with enthusiasm.

Finding the Obstacles

As the team drove around, they kept their eyes peeled for any signs of debris or downed power lines. “When we see these hazards, we document everything with photos, marking them on our maps, and entirely logging the exact locations,” Dr. Skipper added. It’s a meticulous process that will help ensure everyone can get to school safely.

Power and Internet Outlook

One of the bright spots in this situation is that the school district isn’t overly worried about restoration of power or internet services. “Buildings are in good shape, we’ve got a few without power, but those will be coming back up soon,” Dr. Skipper reassured families, showing confidence in the progress being made.

Keeping Families In the Loop

As results from Friday’s surveys come in, the district plans to decide if they need to reassess problem areas over the weekend. Dr. Royster emphasized that they are committed to keeping families updated as soon as possible, ensuring that everyone is informed as they tackle these challenges one step at a time.

A Community Effort

For those who might be wondering what will happen next, the community can take a deep breath. The school district is working tirelessly to pave the way for students to return to school safely. Everyone’s in this together, and every effort counts toward resuming a sense of normalcy for students, families, and staff.

As the days go by, all eyes in Greenville County will be on the schools, eagerly awaiting updates and hoping that the return to classrooms will soon be a reality. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story!