Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
While the Suwannee Valley continues to sort through the debris left behind by Idalia, the local school districts are hard at work getting ready to resume normal operations. As of Monday, Sept. 4, all school districts within Riverbend News' coverage area have confirmed they will be reopening.
In a post made on Sunday, Sept. 2, the Hamilton County School District announced classes would resume on Wednesday, Sept. 6. However, students who are not in a position to return to school will not suffer any penalties for not attending. Pending county-wide power restoration, all absences will be excused, and support will be provided for assignments that may need to be made up. Any families of students needing assistance with resources other than power can contact Superintendent Lee Wetherington-Zamora at (386) 466-2554.
The Suwannee County School District announced on Sunday, Sept. 3, that all athletic practices and games would resume on Tuesday, Sept. 5; school personnel would return on Wednesday, Sept. 6; a “full, regular school program” will begin on Thursday, Sept. 7; and the 21st Century Program will resume on Monday, Sept. 11. Currently, the district is actively working on cleaning school campuses, removing debris, and having all facilities back online with air conditioning, food ready for students, buses and roads ready for transportation, and internet and communications back online.
The Lafayette County School District will also start classes back up on Thursday. The district announced staff would return on Tuesday, Sept. 5, and students will return to campus between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 8.