Columbia County School District is hopeful that students will be in the new Westmont Elementary School on Friday. But if not, there is a plan in place.
Contingency plans
During the Columbia County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, Superintendent Dr. Steven Flynt, told board members that if the school is not ready, then on Friday, Aug. 16 students will be sent to the Columbia County Support Complex at 4595 River Watch Parkway.
“They’re pretty confident that on Friday we can move in,” Flynt said. “However, we’ve heard this two other times, so we don’t want to take that for chance and we’ve gone ahead and sent out our contingency plan in case we need it.”
If the school is still not ready next week, students will attend classes at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. The school district does not anticipate needing to do this but wanted to have a plan in place in case necessary.
“On Monday, we would really believe from everything we’ve seen that we will be in the school,” Flynt said. “However, not to leave anything to chance we are planning a contingency just in case. We have a good plan to move exactly what we have happening at the Performing Arts Center out to the Exhibition Center, and everybody lines up to make that happen, just as they did when we moved there. Again, hopefully we won’t need that, but if we do, we will.”
If the contingency plans are needed, school buses will continue to provide transportation and breakfast and lunches will also be provided, said a statement from the school district sent out Tuesday evening before the board meeting.
“Before and after school care will continue to be available for those who are already registered. Self-contained students will remain in their temporary locations at surrounding schools,” said a statement from the school district.
Complimenting the teachers
Flynt and school board members complimented the hard work the teachers at Westmont have done so far this school year.
“We can’t say enough about the staff over at Westmont and all the teachers and all their doing,” Flynt said. “They’re learning at a high level.”
District 2 Board Member Kristi Baker said she attended open house at the PAC and it was great to see everyone coming together.
“That was just…to see the kids and the parents so excited and just having the whole group merged together as one school,” Baker said. “…it was like a group of team players came together and I know they made some great bonds. I know through all of this, those teachers who had been at Westmont and the new teachers coming in are now one group.”
District 1 Board Member David Alalof said there were several delays, including weather and supply chain, but the school won’t open until it is 100% safe.
“Whether it’s Thursday, Friday or Monday, it’ll be open and it’ll be beautiful. The finishing product, it will be gorgeous,” Alalof said.
The school district said another update will be provided on Thursday, Aug. 14.
