Westmont Elementary to hold first week of school at Columbia County Performing Arts Center

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) – Westmont Elementary will not be ready for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 5, according to a statement released by the school this evening.

In a press release sent to families on July 31, Principal Angela Young addressed the situation and acknowledged the inconvenience.

“In an effort to ensure our students receive a quality education from day one in a safe, positive environment, we will hold instruction for the first week of school at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center (PAC), located at 1000 Market Street, in Evans,” said Young. “During this time, students will be engaged in exciting instructional activities, and other memorable experiences to enrich their learning.”

Open House will also be held at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, August 4 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

According to Young, meals and transportation will be offered, with security provided by the Columbia County School District Police Department.

“Throughout the week, grab-and-go breakfast and lunch will be provided free of charge, daily, for students during our temporary placement. School buses will transport students via their assigned routes to the PAC, and a car line will be established for pick-up and drop-off,” she said. “Safety and security is a top priority and measures are being put into place to include secure entry access points and monitoring by our Columbia County School District Police Department. Additionally, our school nurse will also be on site to assist with medication distribution.”

Families of students who need self-contained classroom settings should expect to be contacted with information about temporary accommodations.

To accommodate students further, a “Learn from Home” option is available and laptops will be provided for those who choose this to participate. Parents are asked to complete a survey to select which method of learning they prefer.

This is a developing story. Count on WJBF NewsChannel 6 for more information as it becomes available.

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