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Schools in Upstate South Carolina Remain Closed Following Hurricane Helene

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has led to the closure of the majority of schools in the Upstate region on Monday, October 6. As community officials and school districts assess the damage and ensure the safety of students and staff, plans for the remainder of the week are now in focus.

Closure Announcement

Friday, October 4, stating that all schools would be shut down on Monday with all extracurricular activities suspended. The district highlighted significant safety concerns stemming from the storm, including over 1,500 identified issues that posed risks for both school bus routes and personal vehicles. Among these were downed and low-hanging power lines, large debris on roads, road blockages, closed bridges, and malfunctioning traffic signals at important intersections.

Future Operations Unknown

A follow-up statement from school officials indicated that a decision regarding operations on Tuesday, October 8 would be released on Monday afternoon after the Greenville County Schools (GCS) team reassesses local conditions.

Specific District Responses

School Districts 1, 3, 4, and 6 have confirmed that they will remain closed on Monday, with no e-learning expected during this time. Meanwhile, Spartanburg School District 2 is set to open for staff only on Monday, with regular student attendance expected to resume on Tuesday. Similarly, Spartanburg Districts 5 and 7 will open for staff only, operating on a two-hour delay for students on Tuesday with normal classes resuming on Wednesday, October 9.

Other Districts’ Measures

The School District of Pickens County has confirmed that it will return to normal operations starting Monday, with a caution regarding bus routes. Their transportation team has evaluated the roads and declared that buses would avoid any areas deemed impassable for larger vehicles. More details on the specific roads impacted can be found on the district’s official website.

Public Holiday Observations

According to information provided by Dylan McCullough, the chief communications officer for District 3, all Anderson County districts will maintain closure on Monday and Tuesday, as both days coincide with previously scheduled student holidays. Regular operations are expected to resume on Wednesday.

Additional District Updates

Cherokee County Schools will also open for staff only on Monday, with updates regarding Tuesday’s operations anticipated later in the day. For those in Greenwood County School District 52, schools are already on Fall Break, extending from September 30 through October 11.

Conclusion

As the recovery process continues in the wake of Hurricane Helene, school officials across the Upstate are committed to ensuring that students and staff remain safe before resuming normal education operations. The next updates will provide more clarity on how schools will function in the coming days.