With no major storm damage or flooding, Chester, Lancaster and York schools will be open Monday

Despite heavy rainfalls that left large areas of the state flooded and under an emergency declaration this weekend, schools in York, Chester and Lancaster counties are expected to open as scheduled on Monday.

All six area school districts contacted by The Herald on Sunday afternoon were preparing to open as usual this week, even after Gov. Nikki Haley asked schools to stay closed Monday in an emergency press conference in Columbia as the rest of the state recovered from the effects of Hurricane Joaquin.

The three-county area suffered less storm damage than other parts of South Carolina, which have seen heavy flooding and impassable roadways after the weekend’s storms.

In York County, those contacted at Clover, Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York school districts all said the districts had no plans to close school as of Sunday.

“The governor asked schools in affected areas to consider closing, but we are not in the same situation as the Midlands and Charleston area, luckily,” said Tim Cooper, public information officer with the York school district.

Likewise, Chester County schools were monitoring the weather situation on Sunday, but spokeswoman Brooke Clinton said it would take “something major” for the school district to call off school at such late notice.

Lancaster County schools are also likely to open, said public information director David Knight, but school employees were still inspecting schools around the county on Sunday to make sure conditions would allow facilities to open Monday morning.

Winthrop University also will hold classes on Monday, but provost Debra Boyd asked professors to work with students who may have difficulty commuting from outside Rock Hill.

“I ask that you work with students who have been affected by the weather-related catastrophes so that they can complete assignments and stay on track in your classes,” Boyd said in an email to colleagues on Sunday, noting the damage inflicted on the rest of the state.

“(W)e are likely to have students whose families have lost their homes or who are unable to travel because of roads closed due to water and debris,” she said.

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 6:34 PM with the headline "With no major storm damage or flooding, Chester, Lancaster and York schools will be open Monday."