Hurricane Helene Forces SCCPSS Operational Changes

UPDATE - 10/7/2024 - 4:40pm

ALL Remaining SCCPSS Schools Will Return to In-Person Learning on Tuesday, October 8, 2024

While most SCCPSS schools across the district opened for in-person learning on Monday, seven did not have full power and connectivity.  Students at those schools continued E-learning on Monday.

All SCCPSS school sites have now confirmed full power restoration and connectivity and are clear for reentry. 

We are very excited to welcome our students and staff back to the following schools for in-person learning on Tuesday, October 8, 2024:

Gould Elementary School

The School of Humanities at Juliette Gordon Low Elementary

Jenkins High School

The Learning Academy at Jenkins High School

Southwest Elementary School

Shuman Elementary School

The Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey, Jr. School

All schools will be open on regular operational schedules. 

UPDATE - 10/4/2024 - 5:30pm

SCCPSS will open on Monday, October 7, with over 90% of schools and facilities fully operational.  While the majority of our schools will be open on Monday, six (6) sites currently do not have power or connectivity including: The School of Humanities at Julitte Low, Jenkins High School, Southwest Elementary, Shuman Elementary, Gould Elementary (including The Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey, Jr. School), and the Learning Academy at Jenkins.  For these schools to receive students and staff, power and connectivity must be restored, and a full assessment of the facility conducted. Given this, these seven sites will continue with E-Learning on Monday. Again, all other sites will be open and operational on our regular schedule.

Throughout the weather emergency SCCPSS maintenance, operations, and campus police teams have worked to ensure all facilities are functional based on our highest levels of safety standards.  Careful consideration for reopening has been given with a review of operational systems, HVAC units, internet connectivity and food services for our cafeterias.  As we return to normal operations, the District is experiencing food delivery delays because of the widespread impact this weather event has caused across and region.  Please know, every child will receive a meal on Monday;  however, parents are encouraged, if they are able, to partner with us and send breakfast or lunch with their children as food delivery systems continue to stabilize. 

Also, while most roadways have been cleared, there still may be debris or other storm related issues impacting travel. Our buses may need to use alternative routes on Monday to ensure students are transported safely. We ask for your patience as morning pick up and evening drop off times may be delayed.

The District looks forward to welcoming our students and staff back on Monday.  Once again, all schools will be open excluding the School of Humanities at Juliette Low, Jenkins High School, Southwest Elementary, Shuman Elementary (including The Early Learning Center at Henderson E. Formey, Jr. School), Gould Elementary, and the Learning Academy at Jenkins. These schools will receive additional guidance and updates in a separate communication from their school principals.  All other schools will be open on our regular operational schedules.

UPDATE - 10/2/2024 - 1:40pm

SCCPSS to Reopen with E-Learning Days for Students (Oct. 3 / Oct. 4

Power and connectivity for District facilities is improving.  Recent reports from CEMA and Georgia Power indicate that Chatham County is at the 85% restoration level for our communities.  While we are seeing improvements, the District continues to focus on the operational reliability of our air conditioning systems, while working through intermittent connectivity issues, and the impacts of food delivery schedules for school cafeterias. 

After careful consideration of these factors for reopening, SCCPSS will begin our return to operations with asynchronous E-Learning Days for students for the remainder of the week on Thursday, October 3, 2024, and Friday, October 4, 2024. 

All athletic events are cancelled for the remainder of the week to include the weekend. Updates regarding any rescheduled games will be provided in future communications.

E-LEARNING: The E-Learning Days on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4 will be asynchronous, meaning students will work independently to complete assignments and teachers will be available to assist remotely as needed.  Students will receive additional guidance from your school on E-Learning assignments. 

·       No student will be penalized for inability to participate in any of the E-Learning Days throughout this emergency weather event.  Extended or alternative opportunities to complete assignments will be provided to ensure students are marked present.

During this school closure, only essential staff should report to work, as directed by their supervisor.  All employees should refer to their email issued in Outlook on 10/2/24 at 1:14pm for further details

Once again SCCPSS will operate on asynchronous E-Learning Days for students on Thursday, October 3, 2024, and Friday, October 4, 2024.

The District continues to work closely with emergency management officials across the county and is deploying all available assets to ensure a return to full in-person learning while maintaining a safe teaching and learning environment.  Based on available information and assessments, SCCPSS aims to return to in-person learning on Monday, October 7, 2024.  This return date is subject to change, and we will continue to inform our families and staff of our progress.  Another operational update will be provided for families no later than 6:00pm on Friday, October 4, 2024. 

Please continue to monitor the District’s official communication channels including staff email, call notification system, website postings at sccpss.com, and the District’s Social Media Channels for updates.

UPDATE - 10/1/2024 - 12:30pm

SCCPSS to Remain Closed on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 – No School for Students

Many schools across Chatham County remain without power and connectivity.  SCCPSS continues to assess all facilities across the school District to ensure conditions are safe for teaching and learning.  Based on current assessments, the District will remain closed on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.  This is a non-instructional day. No In-person or E-learning activities are scheduled.

District officials are assessing multiple factors for school reopening to include safe roadways for bus travel, operational capacity of school cafeterias, power restoration, functional air-conditioning systems, and internet connectivity in our schools and the community.  SCCPSS seeks to open school when conditions support the safety of students and staff.  The District is considering potential reopening scenarios that could include a combination of e-learning or in-person learning based on the number of schools and facilities that have reliable power and internet connectivity.  Additional information will be provided as our facilities continue to pass our inspections and function at full power.

During this school closure, only essential staff should report to work, as directed by their supervisor.  All employees should refer to their email issued in Outlook on 10/1 at 12:35pm for further details.

An update regarding school operations will be provided tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024) no later than 3:00pm.  Once again, the District will remain closed on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.  This is a non-instructional day. No In-person or E-learning activities are scheduled.

SCCPSS will continue to provide updates through all available communication channels.  Families should continue to monitor electronic communications as you are able including the District’s website, social media channels, our parent notification system and local media outlets.  

UPDATE - 9/29/2024 - 4:30pm

Based on the continued impacts in our area as a result of Hurricane Helene including widespread power outages and loss of connectivity, SCCPSS will close school operations on Monday and Tuesday (September 30^th and October 1^st) of this week.

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE:  There will be NO E-Learning requirement on Monday and Tuesday.

Monday and Tuesday will be non-instructional days for students.  

SCCPSS Operations and Campus Police staff remain in regular contact with the Chatham Emergency Management Agency and officials from Georgia Power for predictions on power restoration.  While facilities are in good condition, extended power outages will require a health and safety inspection prior to opening to ensure all systems, including school kitchens and air conditioning  (HVAC) units, are functional.  These inspections will not occur until we have full power restoration.

During this school closure, only essential staff should report to work, as directed by their supervisor.  All employees should refer to their email issued in Outlook on 9/29 at 4:45pm for further details.

Once again, there will be no school for students on Monday (9/30) and Tuesday (10/1).  The virtual learning day on Friday 9/27 will be considered a school day with all students present based on assignments or evidence of schoolwork completed.  For any student who was unable to participate on Friday, extended or alternative opportunities to complete assignments will be provided to ensure they are marked present.”

SCCPSS staff will continue to monitor updates with emergency management partners to make an assessment on school opening.  An update regarding operations for the remainder of the week will be provided no later than Tuesday evening at 6:00pm.

SCCPSS will continue to provide updates through all available communication channels.  Families should continue to monitor electronic communications as you are able including the District’s website, social media channels, our parent notification system and local media outlets. 

UPDATE - 9/27/2024 - 5pm

SCCPSS maintenance crews and Campus Police began assessing the condition of our facilities late this morning, as soon as it was safe to do so.  As of this afternoon, we still have a large number of schools without power and connectivity, as well as concerns about trees down on roadways throughout the area or laying across power lines. 

At this time, we are not prepared to make a decision on school operations for Monday, September 30^th.  We will continue to assess facilities throughout the weekend and will monitor Georgia Power for updates regarding power restoration.  Families will receive an update no later than 6pm on Sunday regarding operational readiness for Monday. 

In addition, two SCCPSS football games originally scheduled for tonight, were rescheduled for Saturday.  Based on lingering power outages the Savannah High game will be rescheduled.  We hope to have a new date confirmed for communication on Sunday.  The New Hampstead game will happen as scheduled tomorrow at 3pm in Perry.

We thank you for your patience as we work to ensure the safety of staff and students.  Thank you for your support of Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The track of Hurricane Helene is expected to create unsafe weather conditions in our area starting in the evening hours on Thursday and will continue into Friday morning.  In addition to the rainfall and the potential for power outages, this system could bring tropical storm force wind gusts that will create dangerous driving conditions for the 20,000 students who ride the bus to school. 

As a precaution, Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools will close in-person activities on Friday (9/27) and will shift to virtual learning and remote work.  Additionally, Friday night athletic events have been rescheduled and will take place on Saturday. Visit sccpss.com for updated athletic schedules. 

To ensure there are no dangers associated with the approaching storm on Thursday and to allow families and staff time to prepare – SCCPSS will operate on an early release day on Thursday for students. All schools will be cleared and closed one hour after the early release dismissal time on Thursday 9/27. 

Once again, the decision has been made to close all buildings and District facilities for in-person activities on Friday, September 27, 2024.  Remote teaching and learning will take place as conditions allow. The District will also operate on an early release day tomorrow (Thursday 9/26) on the following schedule:

THURS 9/26 Early Dismissal Times

11:30 am -  High Schools(except Building Bridges), Mercer MS, Godley K-8, Building Bridges MS, Learning Academy @ Jenkins /Schools closed 12:30pm

11:40 am - Middle Schools(except Mercer) and Building Bridges HS, Wings Elementary /Schools closed 12:40pm

12:15 pm - Ellis, Garrison, Isle of Hope, Georgetown, Hesse, New Hampstead K-8, Learning Academy @ IOH, Pulaski K8, Bloomingdale /Schools closed 1:15pm

1:15 pm - Elementary Schools, Rice Creek /Schools closed 2:15pm

  ****There are no changes to District operations today (Wednesday, September 25, 2024). 

Please continue to monitor the District’s official communication channels including the parent notification system, website postings at sccpss.com, and the District’s Social Media Channels for updates.