News Summary
Greenville schools are monitoring snowfall forecasts while maintaining their regular schedules, assessing safety and making necessary adjustments.
Greenville – Upstate schools are making plans to respond to an impending snowfall forecast for Wednesday. The Greenville area is expected to receive less than half an inch of snow, with specific forecasts estimating one to two-tenths of an inch. Precipitation is anticipated to begin after daybreak Wednesday, around 8-9 a.m., and will taper off by sunset.
As of now, Greenville County Schools will maintain a regular schedule on Wednesday despite the forecasts. Tim Waller, the director of media relations for Greenville County Schools, confirmed that no decisions regarding schedule adjustments had been made earlier on the day of the forecast, but updates are being closely monitored. The Anderson School District Three also stated that they do not expect to change their current schedule, but they will inform families promptly if any alterations are needed.
Meanwhile, the Pickens County School District is actively monitoring information from the National Weather Service and is collaborating with Pickens County Emergency Services to evaluate the impact on school operations. The leadership and weather response teams within Pickens County Schools are engaged in ongoing discussions regarding safety and weather implications for students and staff.
Changes to school schedules, should they arise, will be communicated officially through the district’s website, social media, and direct notifications to families.
Prior to this latest weather concern, students in Greenville County were out of school from September 30 through October 8 due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, returning on October 9. Extensive assessments were conducted at all campuses in Greenville County to ensure safety and readiness for students, with power and internet restored at all schools except one. The one school still inaccessible due to a blocked driveway is expected to have the issue resolved quickly.
Food services in Greenville County have been restocked and are prepared to serve all students on Wednesday. Adjustments have also been made to over 300 bus routes to ensure student safety amid continuing infrastructure issues that arose following Hurricane Helene. Athletics will have voluntary practices before returning to a normal schedule, although no field trips are planned until at least October 13 to prioritize instructional time.
The end date for Quarter 1 has been extended from October 11 to October 21, while there are no changes to the schedule for Quarter 2. Currently, eLearning is not feasible in Greenville County due to widespread residential internet outages. Dr. Royster has emphasized that the school calendar will continue without the need for makeup days, provided legislative approval is granted.
In other districts, Union County Schools plan to utilize built-in weather makeup days from the 2024-2025 academic calendar for missed days resulting from Hurricane Helene. Similarly, Cherokee County School District intends to strategize plans for makeup days as the semester progresses, with existing makeup days allocated for the second semester. Decisions about makeup days are still pending for Anderson County School Districts 1, 2, and 3, while Spartanburg County School District 5’s calendar includes built-in makeup days, although no decisions regarding scheduling have been finalized.
Abbeville County has already utilized two eLearning days and was on fall break, negating the need for additional makeup days, while Laurens County School District 56 plans to make up eLearning days on November 4, February 17, and March 17, contingent on board approval. Greenwood County School District 51 will not need any makeup days, as it coincidentally aligned its calendar with a fall break.
Most universities in the Upstate region have resumed in-person classes, with Spartanburg Methodist College and Winthrop University scheduling their returns for October 9. In Greenville County, assessments revealed 1,500 issues affecting school transportation and infrastructure, including downed power lines and debris. Following further evaluations, approximately 1,000 additional issues have been identified, and families will be kept informed regarding any necessary adjustments to temporary bus stops resulting from infrastructure damage post-Hurricane Helene.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: Upstate Schools Assessing E-Learning Day
- Google Search: Upstate Schools E-Learning Day
- WYFF4: Make-Up School Days Due to Hurricane Helene
- Google Scholar: Hurricane Helene South Carolina
- Fox Carolina: Make-Up Days for Hurricane Helene
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hurricane Helene
- WSPA: School Districts Change Schedule Ahead of Winter Storm
- Google News: Upstate School Changes Weather
- Greenville Online: Greenville Schools Return Wednesday
- Google Search: Greenville Schools Return Wednesday
