Schools in Upstate South Carolina Remain Closed Following Hurricane Helene
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A vast majority of school districts in the Upstate are closed today, following the impact of Hurricane Helene. The storm, which hit last Friday, brought significant damage, prompting school officials to evaluate the road conditions and safety for students and staff.
The school district made the decision to close all schools on Monday, October 6. In a statement released on Friday, the district noted that, while improvements have been seen in the area, there are still over 1,500 obstacles present that render many roads unsafe for travel. These issues include downed power lines, debris, blockages, sinkholes, and non-functional traffic signals at major intersections.
Plan of Action for the Week
School officials are expected to reassess this situation on Monday afternoon, with updates regarding school operations for Tuesday, October 8, forthcoming after evaluations. Several districts including 1, 3, 4, and 6 confirmed they will continue to remain closed on Monday with no plans for online learning.
Meanwhile, Spartanburg School District 2 announced it would open Monday, but only for staff. Normal operations for students will resume on Tuesday morning. Similarly, Spartanburg School Districts 5 and 7 follow the same pattern of staff-only operations on Monday, with students returning to school on a two-hour delay on Tuesday. Normal classes will occur starting Wednesday, October 9.
Different Responses Across Districts
The School District of Pickens County indicated that all schools in the area will return to regular operations on Monday. However, they emphasized that buses will not operate on routes that are deemed impassable for larger vehicles. A list of these roads can be found on their official webpage.
In Anderson County, chief communications officer Dylan McCullough reported that schools will stay closed for two days due to pre-scheduled student holidays. Operations are set to resume on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Cherokee County Schools will also open Monday, but only for staff. Further announcements regarding Tuesday’s operations are expected later in the day.
Lastly, Greenwood County School District 52 is currently on Fall Break, which began on September 30, and extends through Friday, October 11.
Conclusion
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left several issues still being addressed across the Upstate region. With significant wreckage affecting roadways and safety concerns at the forefront, school officials are working diligently to ensure the well-being of their students and staff before making a decision to proceed with regular school activities.
