More Midlands school districts switch to online classes Friday due to winter weather
Several Midlands school districts have switched from in-person classes to online learning on Friday because of the threat of severe winter weather.
Officials with Sumter School District, Kershaw County School District, Fairfield County School District, Richland 1, Richland 2, Lexington 1, Lexington 2, Lexington-Richland 5, Lexington 4, and Clarendon School District 2 have adjusted plans to make Friday an e-Learning day because of the forecast that includes the possibility of freezing rain, snow and sleet.
Virtual classes will be held on both Thursday and Friday for Lee County School District students and teachers. The decision was made because of the weather threat along with the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, district officials said.
“A virtual eLearning day allows students to minimize any interruptions caused by inclement weather and continue to make educational progress,” Fairfield County district officials said.
Because of the switch to virtual classes, schools and office buildings will be closed in Sumter County, and all activities, including athletic events and field trips, are canceled.
While school and district offices will remain open in Kershaw County, all after-school activities and events have been canceled. Meals will be sent home with students on Thursday, district officials said.
“Although the forecast could change, we wanted to give our families and staff enough notice in order to prepare for the e-Learning day. Please remain safe,” Sumter County district officials said.
Richland 1 students will learn virtually Friday, and teachers will work from home because of the forecasted winter weather, Richland 1 said in a news release. After-school activities scheduled for Friday are canceled. Since it will be a virtual day and not a day off, students will not have to do a make up day. Friday’s breakfast and lunch meals will be sent home with students Thursday, the release said.
Lexington 2 school district also announced it would switch all schools in the Cayce-West Columbia area to virtual learning on Friday. All after-school activities and athletic events scheduled for Friday were also canceled, but as of Thursday morning all school events scheduled for Thursday were still taking place.Friday meals for students will be provided for take-away at the end of the school day Thursday, Lexington 2 said in a news release.
Lexington 1 also sent out a text alert and email to parents Thursday morning that all students will move to e-Learning in the central Lexington County district on Friday. All after-school activities for Lexington 1 are canceled, and a decision for Saturday’s scheduled activities will be made Friday afternoon.
Lexington-Richland 5 is switching to an e-Learning day because of the winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service, district officials said. Time will be allowed for students who lose power to complete assignments, and bagged lunches will be sent home with students on Thursday.
Additionally, L-R 5 said all athletic and after-school events are canceled for Friday and Saturday.
Richland 2 said it was making the switch to online classrooms because of the the potential for widespread and extended power outages and hazardous travel conditions due to freezing rain.
Lexington 4 announced that classes in the Swansea area district will also go virtual Friday and that all after-school activities have been canceled, “in coordination with all Lexington County school districts,” officials said in an email.
Lexington 3 previously switched to online classrooms this week, but it didn’t have anything to do with the weather. Both Lexington 3 and the School District of Newberry County have shifted to virtual learning as cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 surge.
Additionally, the University of South Carolina said its Columbia campus and all university offices will be closed on Friday. All in-person classes scheduled on Friday will be canceled and remote classes may be rescheduled, USC officials said.
Midlands Technical College also announced all of its campuses will close and classes are cancelled on Friday.
This is a developing story, check back to see if there are any additional changes to the start of the school day, or if any other area school districts adjust their schedules.
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This story was originally published January 20, 2022 at 8:47 AM with the headline "More Midlands school districts switch to online classes Friday due to winter weather."
