The Columbia County School District re-opened its schools’ doors to students on Wednesday, for the first time after Hurricane Helene’s touchdown.
The district offered, at a regularly scheduled board of education meeting on Tuesday night, an overview of damage to the district and updates on transportation and school nutrition.
“With the hurricane hitting on Friday, early morning…you know, we were all shocked at the level of destruction,” said Superintendent Dr. Steven Flynt. “It was very difficult to communicate. But by that afternoon, all of our schools had been touched in one way or another and (we) identified any problems at those schools.”
Damage reports
“Structurally, we have fared pretty well,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Operations Penny Jackson, in reference to damage on the district’s different campuses.
She highlighted that a large portion of damage is central to outside athletic fields, “especially our softball and baseball fields,” and structures that aren’t completely secured, such as portable batting cages.
Transportation updates
Jackson said that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has been “working with our county roads and bridges and have been kept up to date with known road closures and areas that are more problematic to navigate through.”
It was stated that there is no known damage to district buses.
Parents are encouraged to track bus routes with the Edulog Lite School Bus Tracker app because routes may be slower than normal in the coming days.
“Parents can call the DOT office and the school for updated information as well if they cannot access that app,” said Jackson.
School nutrition updates
Jackson said that the district’s main food supplier is operational and normal meal plans will continue being offered.
She said that the district’s school kitchens have passed inspections by “nutrition managers and health inspectors” from the Department of Public Health.
This week meals at school will be offered as normal, but will be no-cost on Wednesday and Thursday.
Rescheduled testing and athletics
The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which was set for Oct. 16, has been rescheduled for Oct. 22.
College Board has postponed the original date of the (Suite of Assessments) SAT from Oct. 5. Students and families are encouraged to contact College Board for information on rescheduling the SAT.
Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has changed the original football playoff schedule by adding a week to the season; The last Friday of the regular season was set for Nov. 1, but is now moved to Nov. 8.
The opening round of the State Playoffs, originally slated for Nov. 8, will be pushed back to Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16.
Schools affected by Hurricane Helene for two or more weeks may still have to double up and play a Thursday, Tuesday and Saturday sequence. Regions will determine these sequences with approval from GSHA.
Middle school and junior varsity sports have been postponed but will be rescheduled if possible.
More information
The school district is encouraging its families to seek out more information about the impact of Helene on schools online at www.ccboe.net/hurricane.
