Orangeburg County School District announces delayed arrivals after widespread flooding

ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS) – Students in Orangeburg County return to class Tuesday after widespread flood damage to roads due to last week’s heavy rains canceled classes for three days.

Orangeburg County School District is operating on the following modified school schedule:

• Tuesday, November 12, 2024 – 2 hours delay

• Wednesday, November 13, 2024 – 2 hours delay

• Thursday, November 14, 2024 – 1 hour delay

• Friday, November 15, 2024 – 1 hour delay

In addition to the schedule changes, all out-of-district field trips have been canceled this week.

The district also says after-school programs at North Middle/High School and Dover Elementary School have been suspended this week due to safety concerns.

District officials said it will return to a normal schedule on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Chief Inspector Dr. Shawn Foster told WIS News that 10 bus drivers came to work Monday and drove their routes in their personal vehicles looking for alternate routes to schools.

One parent said they had reservations about returning to classes with more than 100 road closures in the province.

“I really think they should leave the kids at home until they build the roads. I care about the other kids, the bus drivers and the safety of everyone,” Dynekeqwa Robinson said.

“Our bus drivers. I want to praise them. They arrived today. In their personal vehicles, they drive their routes to see how they can make adjustments and/or adjustments,” Foster said.

“We want kids to go to school, but in many cases we wouldn’t have been able to get them there anyway,” Foster added.

In addition to the reopening of schools, Orangeburg County Emergency Management said the shelter at the Orangeburg city gym and the water distribution site in Neeses were both closed Monday after opening last week following Gov. Henry McMaster’s declaration of a state of emergency.

A spokesperson for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division says the state of emergency is still in effect.

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