Spartanburg Schools Welcome Students Back After Hurricane Helene
Schools in Spartanburg County recently reopened their doors for the first time since being forced to close due to Hurricane Helene. The corridors of District 5 schools were buzzing with life as students returned to familiar surroundings after a week away.
“We last saw our students on Thursday, September 26th. We had an eLearning day scheduled for Friday, September 27th, but we never anticipated the storm that swept across our area,” said one representative from District 5.
First Day of School… Again!
Following the disruption, Tyger River Elementary Principal shared their joy at being back, stating, “It’s almost like the first day of school again.” There was an air of renewed excitement as teachers prepared engaging lessons to reignite the students’ passion for learning.
Getting Back on Track
Reopening the schools post-storm was no small feat. The district faced several challenges including restocking the freezers and refrigerators to feed students, restoring power and clearing the premises of debris. The entire exercise was carefully managed to ensure student safety, right from their commute to school to their time within the school premises.
District 6 schools had a similar story to tell as they welcomed students on Tuesday. The emphasis was not just on restoring physical infrastructure but also catering to the emotional wellness of the students.
An official from District 6 shared, “We pulled together to get our building back in order for our students. School is not just about learning. It’s about a child’s emotional wellbeing too.”
Continuing Support
Even though the schools are back in action, the struggles are far from over for some families. Recognizing this, District 6 revealed plans to keep their buildings open for longer.
This will particularly benefit middle and high school students who currently lack power and internet access at home. The representative from District 6 added, “We are doing everything we can right now to support families because even though we are back in school there are still families hurting in our community.”
Addressing Missed School Days
The question of making up missed school days is still under discussion. The South Carolina Department of Education requires each district to build in three makeup days. Additionally, local school boards have the discretion to forgive up to three days. Any excess days will require a waiver from the State Board of Education.
The journey towards normalcy is a long one, but the sense of community is palpable as everyone in Spartanburg County joins forces to navigate these challenging circumstances.
