Latest on school changes due to Helene recovery efforts

Here are the latest school changes in the Upstate area of South Carolina due to Helene recovery efforts: (We will add to this list as we learn more) Greenville County Schools:Greenville County Schools will reopen Wednesday, Oct. 9 and transportation will run modified bus routes. Families will be contacted directly if a temporary bus stop is necessary; please answer and listen to voicemails to receive this information. Tuesday, October 8, will be a teacher/all staff workday. There will be no in-person school or eLearning for students; school and district offices will be open to the public. There are no field trips for the rest of this week. Decisions regarding athletics will be made on an individual basis and announced through the schools. The decision to reopen on Wednesday is based on the need to modify bus transportation routes, practice running those routes during daylight, and enable teachers to return to the buildings to revise their instructional plans on Tuesday, as well as to provide more time for crews to clear roads and restore power.Transportation Buses will be rerouted in areas that cannot be navigated, and temporary bus stops will be established and communicated to families. Following tomorrow’s assessment, a delay of routes on Wednesday may be necessary; however, buildings will be open at their regular times and will accept walkers and car riders at the regular times. We ask that if families receive a phone call from the District or an unfamiliar number, please answer the call and listen to voicemails to receive your alternative bus stop location. 300 GCS team members drove 9,000 miles on Friday to assess the conditions of the routes from students’ homes to schools and found 1,500 issues, including downed and low-hanging power lines, significant amounts of debris in the roads, complete road blockages, closed bridges, sinkholes, and traffic signal outages at major intersections. Monday morning, teams reassessed road conditions, noted improvements, and documented more than 1,000 remaining issues that necessitate considerable bus rerouting. Despite working all weekend and today, additional time is needed to account for the updated conditions assessed today, complete rerouting, and communicate to families. Tuesday, bus drivers will drive the modified bus routes during daylight hours in order to ensure familiarity with the route and any obstacles they must navigate around. AcademicsFollowing the eight-day school closure, it is necessary to revise instructional plans. We are extending the end of the first quarter by five instructional days, from October 11 to October 21, to allow for time to make up missed content. The second-quarter end date, December 20, will not change.More than 50% of teachers currently do not have Internet access at home, have not had the ability to work on this during the closure, and must return to the buildings Tuesday to adjust their instructional plans. This, paired with the fact that many families remain without Internet access, also makes eLearning not feasible. For more details about food service, athletics, field trips, and other information, please visit www.Greenville.k12.sc.us.Spartanburg County District 5: Spartanburg District Five will be on a two -hour delay tomorrow, Oct. 8.Spartanburg County District 3:Spartanburg School District Three schools will welcome students back to school tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 8, on a two-hour delay.Spartanburg County District 4:Spartanburg District Four will be on a two hour delay tomorrow, Oct. 8 and will resume a regular schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 9.Spartanburg County District 1:On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, we will reopen on a regular school day schedule.Throughout today, our team has been diligently preparing for the safe return of students to the classroom. Bus routes have been checked for any obstacles, food supplies have been replenished, and we have closely monitored the ongoing restoration efforts following the impact of Hurricane Helene. Teachers have also been working hard in their classrooms, ready to welcome students back to their second home—their school. We are pleased to also report that power, internet, and phone services have been fully restored in all our schools.Please know that making decisions in the aftermath of such an event can be difficult, especially given the size and geographic reach of our district. We know that some families may still be without power. If you are unable to send your child to school on Tuesday due to storm-related circumstances, please contact your child’s school directly. We are here to work with you and will do everything we can to accommodate your family’s individual needs.Cherokee County School District : Cherokee County School District will be on a 2-hour delay for Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The decision to have a 2-hour delay is based on recommendations from SCDOT and Cherokee County Roads & Bridges personnel regarding school bus travel for the first day back at school. Traveling during daylight hours gives the drivers the opportunity to better see any potential debris on the side of the road, low hanging branches, etc. Parents should ensure that student drivers are using the safest routes to and from school. As usual, all drivers should use caution. After Tuesday, we plan to return to our normal schedule.Spartanburg County District 6: After being closed since September 27, District Six schools will reopen tomorrow, October 8, with a two-hour delay. All after school programs and activities will resume as scheduled. This has been a challenging time for our school community, and we are excited to welcome our students back to bring a sense of normalcy and routine that is so important for learning and emotional well-being. We understand that in situations like this, it can be challenging to make decisions that meet the needs of every family, especially in a district of our size. Please know that we have worked diligently throughout this time to ensure the best outcomes for everyone. Below, we’ve provided answers to some of the questions you may have. Why a two-hour delay? The two-hour delay will provide extra daylight as we welcome students back to school. This additional time is especially important for our bus drivers, who typically start their routes before daylight. The delay ensures safer travel conditions for both drivers, parents, and students. We understand this may not be convenient for all families, but this delay allows us to prioritize safety while helping students return to school in the safest way possible. What if your family is without power or you have been displaced? We recognize that we still have some families who are still facing significant challenges, whether from power outages or being displaced. We understand the toll this has taken on our community. Please know that we are here to support you during this time. For those still dealing with difficulties, we encourage you to reach out if returning to school presents challenges. We will work with you to accommodate your individual needs. What if my road is not drivable for a school bus? Our bus drivers have been out this morning driving their routes to assess road safety. We are happy to report that 98% of the roads in our district are safe for bus travel. If your family lives on a road that remains unsafe, for school bus travel, you will receive communication with further instructions. The past 11 days have certainly been challenging for our entire school community. We believe reopening schools is a critical step in helping our students, families, and staff move forward together. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. Two-Hour Delay Times:Elementary schools – the tardy bell will ring at 9:45. Middle Schools – the tardy bell will ring at 10am. Dorman Freshman Campus – the tardy will be ring at 10:10. Students will begin in 1st block.Dorman Freshman Campus – the tardy will be ring at 10:20. Students will begin in 1st block. Child Development Center – Morning Classes that dismiss at 10:15 are canceled.Spartanburg County School District 7The district posted this update to its Facebook page over the weekend:As we prepare to reopen schools in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, District 7 will implement the following schedule on October 7 – 9:To prepare more fully for students to return, we will hold a teacher workday Monday, October 7.All athletics and student activities will resume Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, October 8 we will operate all schools on a two-hour delay. Provided all goes well on Tuesday, we will resume normal school operations on Wednesday, October 9.