COLUMBIA, S.C. — With severe weather forecast for the second time this week, some South Carolina school districts are making adjustments to their Friday, January 12, schedules. Some could be moving to an e-learning day, others are announcing early closures.
District officials may be concerned with flooding issues due to heavy rain, high winds and possible tornadoes that make school bus transportation unsafe. In an abundance of caution, schools may close or go to virtual attendance for safety.
As a reminder, all schools will be closed on Monday, January 15, in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Here is a list of weather-related announcements. This list will be updated throughout the day, as more changes are expected:
Cardinal Newman School: After careful consideration and consultation with the local authorities and partner Catholic schools, Cardinal Newman administration has decided to implement a 2 pm dismissal for Friday. All practices, extra-curricular activities, and athletic activities are cancelled. There will be NO EXTENDED CARE. All students must be picked up at 2 pm. Any extra-curricular contests scheduled for Friday, January 12, will be postponed and made up.
Calhoun County: Calhoun County Public Schools will have a Virtual Learning Day tomorrow, January 12, 2024 due to the weather.
Clarendon County: Clarendon County School District will operate on the early dismissal schedule on Friday, January 12th.
- 11:00 am: MECC, WGES, RWES
- 11:10 am: MPS
- 11:20: am: ECMHS & MES
- 11:25 am: SBMHS
- 11:30 am: MJHS
- 11:45 am - MHS
Fairfield County: Due to the possibility of severe weather in the forecast for Friday, January 12, 2024, Fairfield County Schools will operate on a half-day schedule. Early dismissal schedule follows:
- 11:30 am: Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science and Fairfield Elementary School
- noon: Geiger Elementary, Kelly Miller Elementary, and McCrorey-Liston School of Technology
- 12:05 pm: Gordon Odyssey Academy
- 12:20 pm: Fairfield Middle, Fairfield Central High, and Fairfield Career Technology Center
Kershaw County: Kershaw County School District (KCSD) schools and offices will close early Friday.
Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., middle schools at 11:45 a.m. and high schools at noon. Breakfast and lunch will be served. The district office will close at 1 p.m.
Morning Woolard Technology Center and morning adult education students will attend class and dismiss at their regular times. Students in preschool special needs programs will not attend school.
All KCSD child care programs, extracurricular and after-school activities — including sports practices and games — are also canceled, as well as after school and evening district meetings.
As a reminder, all KCSD schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
Lee County: All schools will dismiss early on Friday, January 12, 2024. elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m., Lee Central Middle School will dismiss at 12:00 noon, and Lee Central High School will dismiss at 12:15 p.m.
Lexington 1: All Lexington One schools will operate on a half-day schedule.
- All elementary schools (including full day pre-school classes) dismiss at 11:20 am
- Pre-school half-day classes, both morning and afternoon sessions are cancelled
- All middle schools -- except Gilbert -- dismiss at 12:05 pm; Gilbert Middle School dismisses at 12:15 pm
- Pelion and Gilbert high schools dismiss at 12:25 pm
- Lexington, White Knoll and River Bluff high schools dismiss at 12:45 pm
Lexington 2: Due to forecasts of severe weather that could make bus travel hazardous, Lexington Two schools will dismiss early on Friday, January 12.
Friday’s early release times are 1 p.m. for elementary schools, 2 p.m. for middle and high schools. All afternoon and evening activities are canceled on Friday, including athletic events, extracurricular activities, after-school programs, and adult education classes.
Lexington 3: Out of consideration for the safety of our students and staff members, Lexington County School District Three will release students early on Friday, January 12th. Students will dismiss using the schedule below. Please note that these dismissal times are thirty minutes earlier than our normal early release day schedule due to predictions on the storm’s arrival.
- B-L Primary School will dismiss students at 11:00 am.
- B-L Elementary School will dismiss students at 11:15 am.
- B-L Middle School will dismiss students at 11:45 am.
- B-L High School will dismiss students at 12:00 pm.
All afterschool-related activities are canceled on Friday, January 12th to include scheduled meetings, classes, practices and athletic games.
Lexington 4: will transition to early dismissal for all schools, tomorrow, Friday, January 12, 2024. Additionally, all afterschool activities and athletics are canceled for tomorrow. Half-day schedule is:
- 10:30 am: Early Childhood Center
- 10:45 am: Sandhills Primary/Elementary
- 11:30 am: Sandhills Middle
- 11:45 am: Swansea High Freshman Academy
- Noon: Francis Mack Intermediate and Swansea High
Lexington-Richland District 5: School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties will operate on an early release and afternoon e-Learning schedule on Friday, January 12, 2024. School District Five schools will dismiss as follows:
- All Intermediate Schools release @ 11:40 am
- All Elementary Schools release @ 11:50 am
- Academy for Success & Center for Advanced Technical Studies release @ 12:30 pm
- All Middle Schools release @ 12:45 pm
- Spring Hill High School releases @ 12:50 pm
- All Other High Schools release @ 1:05 pm
- FIVE will operate as normal. Students in half-day preschool programs will not meet. Afternoon classes at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies (CATS) and adult education will not meet.
Students should check their Google Classroom or See Saw Accounts thirty (30) minutes after dismissal time for e-Learning assignments.
Morris College, Sumter: Morris College campus will close at 1:00 p.m. today, January 12, 2024, for all in-person classes and activities for faculty, staff, and students. Virtual classes scheduled for today will continue in their remote format.
Newberry School District: School District of Newberry County will release elementary students at 12 pm and middle and high school students at 12:30 pm on Friday, January 12. All after school events are canceled, including all athletic games and practices and Boys and Girls Club after school care.
Orangeburg County: . As the wind gusts will be at a speed making it unsafe for school buses to travel, OCSD has decided to have an E-Learning Day on Friday, January 12, 2024. All school and district buildings will be closed on Friday, January 12, 2024.Also, all afterschool programs and athletic events, including practices and games, will be canceled on Friday, January 12, 2024.
Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
Richland 1: Friday, January 12, 2024 will be an early release day for Richland One students, as designated on the district’s 2023-2024 academic calendar. There is a possibility of severe weather Friday, but it is not anticipated to affect Richland County until Friday evening. Students and staff should report at their normal start times. Afterschool programs and activities will be held as scheduled.
Richland 2: Richland Two schools will dismiss early on Friday, January 12, 2024. Elementary schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.; Middle schools will dismiss at 1:15 p.m.; High schools will dismiss at 2 pm.
Sumter County: Friday, January 12, 2024, will be a half day for all students and staff in Sumter School District. Elementary schools will dismiss at 11 AM; middle schools will dismiss at 11:30 AM; and high schools will dismiss at 12:30 PM. Students will receive a bagged lunch prior to dismissal, and all after school activities are canceled.