Midlands school districts make changes for Tuesday school schedules amid Helene damage

Midlands school districts are continuing to make schedule shifts in the aftermath of powerful Hurricane Helene, which tore through the region and state on Friday.

Lexington-Richland School District 5 announced that all of its schools and offices, along with its virtual FIVE program, will observe an e-lerarning day on Tuesday, Oct. 1. After-school childcare programs are canceled for Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Then, on Wednesday Oct. 2, District 5’s schools and offices will open with a two-hour delay bell schedule.

“First responders in the School District Five attendance area have made tremendous strides in repairing damages and restoring utilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” Lexington-Richland 5 said in a release. However, many impacts remain. As of Monday, six schools are affected by power outages, and multiple bus routes remain impassable.”

Hurricane Helene battered South Carolina, particularly in the Upstate and Midlands. As of noon Monday, more than 740,000 customers remained out of power across the state. The Congaree River crested at nearly 31 feet on Monday morning, nearly at the level of the historic 2015 floods.

Other districts:

Lexington District 1 announced that all schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 1, per a text message sent to parents and families. Then, on Wed. Oct. 2, Lexington 1 will operate on a two-hour delay.

Richland District 1 announced that all schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 1, according to to a news release Monday afternoon.

The district said that because so many students remain without power, there will also be no e-learning on Tuesday.

Information about plans for Wednesday will be made available Tuesday to parents and staff on the district’s website , social media pages, R1TV (Spectrum cable channel 1303) and the Richland One InfoPhone (803-231-7512), a news release said.

In the meantime, the district will distribute meals for students from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Parents can drive through to pick up meals for their children at the following locations:

• Carver-Lyon Elementary School, located at 2100 Waverly Street, Columbia, SC 29204;

• Eau Claire High School, located at 4800 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203;

• Lower Richland High School, located at 2615 Lower Richland Boulevard, Hopkins, SC 29061; and

• Richland One Central Kitchen, located at 1224 Whitney Street, Columbia, SC 29201