Tropical Storm Debby: Here are the school closures and delays in Rock Hill, Fort Mill SC
Roads were wet and traffic was heavy on Thursday morning as Rock Hill and Fort Mill students returned to school. York and Chester County students who started last week, though, stayed home.
The York School District and Clover School District closed schools Thursday due to high winds, heavy rain and potential flash flooding from Tropical Storm Debby. The Chester County School District moved to a virtual school, day.
The Lancaster County School District starts its school year next week.
At least one bus was delayed Thursday morning in Fort Mill, according to a message sent to parents. Traffic lines were long at and in front of schools all along Fort Mill Parkway.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of York County on Thursday morning, including Rock Hill and Fort Mill. Thousands of people in the three-county Rock Hill region lost power as of Thursday morning.
Dismissal plans in Rock Hill, Fort Mill
Rock Hill and Fort Mill didn’t plan changes to their dismissal, both districts said early Thursday afternoon. Superintendent Tommy Schmolze in Rock Hill emailed a message to parents in his district Thursday morning stating school officials would work with meteorologists and emergency officials but that schools would keep their normal schedule.
“Some families chose to keep their students home today and we fully support our parents and guardians to make that decision,” Schmolze wrote.
Students weren’t marked tardy and attendance staff will recognize student absences Thursday with “grace in support of respecting parental discretion,” Schmolze wrote.
Students are only allowed so many non-excused absences during a school year. That issue came up in online discussion about the districts holding school today, among parents who posted they wouldn’t send their students in the severe weather.
The Rock Hill district got students to school “with no major issues” this morning, Schmolze wrote. “We trust they’ll take their time and bring all our students home safely this afternoon.”
Fort Mill, Rock Hill parents upset school was not closed
Not everyone agreed Fort Mill and Rock Hill students should’ve gone to school given the weather.
A photo posted Thursday morning on the Fort Mill district’s Facebook page had almost 370 comments within three hours. By early afternoon it and other district posts on students heading back to school had almost 500 comments.
Many comments questioned why schools would start when flash flood warnings are in place. Some people posted that they’d keep their students home on Thursday.
“I certainly don’t think it’s right to put anyone at risk — children or adults,” wrote Lisa Marie Higgins. “I have been praying for everyone’s safety this morning.”
A recent Rock Hill district Facebook page post about the new school year got new comments Thursday morning about the district’s decision not to close.
Some mentioned unsafe road conditions and past decisions when area districts closed due to high winds.
“Wondering how they will get home,” wrote Lisa Stalnaker Runyon. “It is not letting up today. It will only get worse.”
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 9:26 AM.
