COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some school districts in the Midlands of South Carolina are making changes to their schedules due to the threat of severe weather that will be happening Tuesday.
The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center has put the entire Midlands under an "enhanced" risk for severe weather, Enhanced is the third highest level and means we're more likely to face a threat of hazardous conditions. The greatest risk will be from roughly noon until 6 p.m. Tuesday.
In response, some school districts are beginning to alter their schedule, with some moving to e-learning days, which would mean students would stay home. Here's the list of districts News19 has heard from so far. We will update this list as more schools announce their plans:
Calhoun County School District: Calhoun County Public Schools will have an eLearning day tomorrow, January 9, 2024 due to the weather. Staff will report to work on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. and students will report at 10:00 a.m.
Clarendon County School District: Clarendon County School District will shift to e-learning on Tuesday, January 9th. All school activities and parent/teacher conferences have been canceled.
Students will have assignments in Google Classroom and must adhere to the District’s e-Learning Expectations listed below and on our district website under documents at ClarendonCSD.org. CCSD e-Learning Expectations
Fairfield County School District: Fairfield County School District will have an E-Learning Day Tuesday, January 9th.
Kershaw County School District: All Kershaw County School District schools will shift to e-learning on Tuesday, January 9. Teachers will post assignments in Canvas (or provide paper packets). Specific instructions will be communicated to students and parents from teachers and schools.
Lee County Schools: Tuesday, January 9, 2024 will be designated as an e-Learning day for students and staff members in the district. Moreover, all afterschool programs, fieldtrips and extracurricular activities we will be canceled as well.
Lexington District One: All Lexington One schools will shift to e-learning on Tuesday, Jan. 9. That means the school buildings and offices will close Tuesday, with teachers assigning both virtual instruction and/or take-home lessons. All afterschool activities and sports are canceled for Tuesday, Jan. 9. Please check your email or ParentSquare for more information.
Lexington District Two: Lexington Two schools will move to an eLearning day on Tuesday, January 9. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled for Tuesday, including athletic events, extracurricular activities, after-school programs and adult education classes.
Lexington District Three: Tuesday, January 9th will be an eLearning Day for all students and staff members across the district due to the potential for high winds and severe weather resulting from a strong storm system that is moving into the area.
Lexington District Four: Lexington Four will transition to an eLearning day for all schools, Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Lexington-Richland District Five: Lexington-Richland School District Five schools, including our virtual FIVE program, will transition to an e-learning day on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Teachers will post assignments to Google Classroom or Seesaw accounts by 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning for asynchronous learning.
All afterschool programs and athletic events on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, are canceled or will be rescheduled as appropriate.
Newberry County School District: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, all schools and offices will be closed, with students and staff participating in eLearning. Teachers will post assignments for students to complete, but there will be no live Google Meets on this day. Students who do not have internet access will need to download assignments prior to leaving school on Monday, January 8, 2024. Students will have a five-school-day window of time to turn in eLearning assignments.
Orangeburg County Schools: The district will be moving to eLearning and remote work on Tuesday for students, faculty and staff. All school and district buildings will be closed on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Also, all afterschool programs and athletic events, including practices and games, will be canceled on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Due to the risk of fallen power lines and trees, OCSD will open with a two-hour delay on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 to allow staff to safely access potential damage and keep the safety of drivers, faculty and staff at the forefront.
Richland District One - Tuesday (January 9, 2024) will be an e-learning day for Richland One students and a work-from-home day for Richland One employees. Richland One parents may pick up meals (breakfast and lunch) for their children from 8-10 a.m. Tuesday at one of the following locations: Lower Richland High School (2615 Lower Richland Boulevard, Hopkins, SC 29061); St. Andrews Middle School (1231 Bluefield Road, Columbia, SC 29210); or the Richland One Central Kitchen (1224 Whitney Street, Columbia, SC 29201).
Richland District Two: Richland School District Two will switch to an e-learning/remote work day on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, This means all school buildings and district facilities will be closed and all after-school activities are canceled. As an e-learning district, approved by the S.C. Department of Education, Richland Two will provide asynchronous instruction to students. Teachers will post assignments in Google Classroom (or provide paper packets). Specific instructions, including teacher virtual office hours, will be communicated to students and parents from their teachers and schools. All assignments must be completed and turned in by Friday, January 12, 2024, for the student to be marked present for Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
Saluda County School District: Saluda County Schools will operate on an eLearning day on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 due to the potential of wind gusts of 45-50 miles per hour, severe thunderstorms, localized flash flooding, and possibly tornado activity. All sporting/school events and practices are canceled also. All schools and offices are closed tomorrow.
Las escuelas del condado de Saluda operarán en un día de aprendizaje electrónico el martes 9 de enero de 2024 debido a la posibilidad de ráfagas de viento de 45 a 50 millas por hora, tormentas eléctricas severas, inundaciones repentinas localizadas y posiblemente actividad de tornados. Todos los eventos y prácticas deportivas/escolares también se cancelan. Todas las escuelas y oficinas estarán cerradas mañana.
Sumter County School District: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, will be an eLearning day for all students and staff in Sumter School District. This means schools and office buildings will be closed, and all activities, including athletic events and field trips, are canceled. Because we are an approved eLearning district, this day will not have to be made up, and lessons and assignments will be posted in Schoology.
