Beaufort County schools announce pivot to remote learning for Friday classes due to Helene

Assuming the district’s electrical and internet utilities are functioning, students in Beaufort County Schools will transition to remote learning Friday in wake of Hurricane Helene, which strengthened into a Category 2 storm overnight.

According to an email from Candace Bruder, a district spokesperson, the changed trajectory and increased winds of the storm led to the decision. The district is using e-learning to avoid a make-up day, wrote Bruder.

“Please know BCSD doesn’t make these decisions lightly. We have many factors to consider, especially tomorrow’s projected high-winds that prohibit the safe travel of school buses,” Bruder’s email said Thursday morning.

Bruder said that families will receive more specific information from their children’s school and/or teachers about how to access e-learning materials.

A tornado watch was issued for Beaufort County at about 8:35 a.m Thursday morning and is set to expire by 9 p.m. The county is also under a tropical storm watch until 7:15 p.m. Thursday. The large storm system is likely to bring strong winds, heavy rain, possible tornadoes and rough seas to the Lowcountry.

After school activities on Thursday are still canceled, but activities scheduled for Friday evening will remain as scheduled, since “the storm is forecasted to pass by this time,” according to Bruder. If these conditions change, district families will receive further communication. All district buildings will be closed Friday.

The Technical College of the Lowcountry said it was monitoring Hurricane Helene and would post updates to its website at tcl.edu, text alerts and social media. There were no college closures or cancellations as of 11 a.m. Thursday.

According to their website, the University of South Carolina-Beaufort is still fully operating.

This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 12:03 PM.

Chloe Appleby

The Island Packet

843-443-2417

Chloe Appleby is a general assignment reporter for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. A North Carolina native, she has spent time reporting on higher education in the Southeast. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Davidson College and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.