School closings/openings due to effects of Hurricane Helene

MIDLANDS, SC (WOLO) —

COLUMBIA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY:

According to Greta Clinton, CIU will be closed to staff and students on Monday, Sept. 30th due to campus power outages.

Classes are canceled through Wednesday, Oct. 2, due to campus power outages caused by Hurricane Helene, and classes will resume on Thursday, Oct. 3.

LEXINGTON ONE:

According to Chief Communications Officer, Libby Roof, Lexington One is canceling school for all students and employees on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

All schools and offices will be closed, and all extracurricular activities are canceled.

“Our area continues to feel the impact of Hurricane Helene. Power outages are still affecting employees and families, as well as some of our facilities, including a few schools. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns about blocked roadways that would prevent buses from safely running their routes,” says Roof.

“Due to the widespread and extended power outages, eLearning is not a viable option for Monday,” says Roof.

• Tuesday, Oct. 1: Lexington One is canceling school for all students and employees. All schools and offices will be closed and all after-school events are canceled. Tuesday will not be an eLearning day due to ongoing power outages and recovery efforts.

• Wednesday, Oct. 2: Lexington One will operate on a two-hour delay. This means school start times are delayed by two hours. Bus riders should report to their bus stops and car riders should be dropped off two hours later than usual. Staff should report to work two hours later as well.

LEXINGTON FOUR:

Lexington Four will be closed, Monday, September, 30, 2024. Hazardous road conditions and power outages continue across the district and county. Additional time is needed for recovery efforts to safely support school operations. Another update will be provided tomorrow afternoon.

All schools and offices will be closed, and all after school activities are canceled.

Lexington Four will have eLearning, Tuesday, October 1. On Wednesday, October 2, schools will be in-session with a 2 hour-delay.

LEXINGTON TWO:

Schools and offices closed on Monday, Sept. 30. There will be lunch bags from the food service team handed out at Cayce Elementary.

In addition to Cayce Elementary, Pine Ridge Middle and Riverbank Elementary also distributed meals, with 601 lunches and 601 snacks, for a total of 1,202 meals distributed during the two-hour lunch service.

Schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, October 1, and free meals will be offered once again from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. that day at the same three school sites to any youth in the community ages 18 and under.

“It’s about more than just providing a meal—it’s about showing up for one another in times of need,” Cayce Elementary Principal Elaine Lundy said.

Lexington Two schools and offices will reopen Wednesday, October 2, on a two-hour delayed start.

RICHLAND ONE: 

All Richland One schools and administrative offices will be closed Monday, September 30, 2024.

Due to the extensive power outages across the district, eLearning will not be a viable option for students Monday.

The district’s Nutrition Services team will distribute meals for students from 9 a.m. to noon Monday. Parents can drive through to pick up meals for their children at the following locations:

• Carver-Lyon Elementary School – 2100 Waverly Street, Columbia, SC 29204
• Eau Claire High School – 4800 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203
• Lower Richland High School – 2615 Lower Richland Boulevard, Hopkins, SC 29061
• Richland One Central Kitchen – 1224 Whitney Street, Columbia, SC 29201

All Richland One schools and administrative offices will be closed Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Food pick-up sites will be at the same locations as Monday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The safety of our students and staff continues to be our priority. Information about plans for Tuesday will be sent Monday to parents, staff and the media, and posted on the district’s website (www.RichlandOne.org), as well as the district’s social media pages (Facebook, X and Instagram), R1TV (Spectrum cable channel 1303) and the Richland One InfoPhone (803-231-7512).

RICHLAND TWO: 

Due to ongoing power outages and related safety concerns, Richland Two will implement an e-learning day Monday, September 30.

All schools and centers will resume at normal hours on Tuesday, October 1. School buses will run on their usual schedules, after school activities will resume as normal also.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: 

“Orangeburg County School District announces that, after conducting assessments of school buildings and facilities, all schools and district offices will reopen on Monday, September 30, 2024.

Parents, we understand that some families may still be impacted by Hurricane Helene, and should your family need support, we ask that you reach out to your school directly.

Also, while we believe opening schools is the best decision to support the needs of our students and community, please note that some routes may not be fully cleared, which could potentially cause delays in bus pickups.

We are thankful that we are all safe and we look forward to our welcoming students and staff back and appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time.”

LEXINGTON-RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE:

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 30. The district will utilize Feb. 17, 2025 as a hazardous weather makeup day and will determine at a later time whether that day will be virtual or in-person.

All after school childcare programs, after school activities, and athletic events and practices are also canceled.

Tuesday, Oct. 1, will be an eLearning day and schools and offices will reopen on a two-hour delay bell schedule on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Student feeding stations will have bag lunches available for district students for pickup on Tuesday, October 1, between 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Pickup will be available at Irmo High School, Dutch Fork High School, and Chapin High School bus loops.