Many Midlands school districts adjusting plans — again — with more severe weather forecast

For the second time this week severe weather is in the forecast, prompting Midlands area school districts to adjust their plans for student learning on Friday.

Thunderstorms are expected to form and could cause damaging winds and possibly tornadoes in addition to a 100% chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Orangeburg County School District officials said wind gusts will be at a speed making it unsafe for school buses to travel, and it will switch to an e-learning day. Additionally, all school and district buildings will be closed and all after school programs and athletic events, including practices and games, will be canceled.

Lexington-Richland 5 will operate on an early release and afternoon e-Learning schedule. All intermediate schools will release at 11:40 a.m., all elementary schools will release at 11:50 a.m., Academy for Success & Center for Advanced Technical Studies will release at 12:30 p.m., all middle schools will release at 12:45 p.m., Spring Hill High School will release at 12:50 p.m., and all other high schools will release at 1:05 p.m.

Lexington 1 officials told parents of students in the district that its schools will operate on a half day. Elementary schools (including full day preschool classes) will dismiss at 11:20 a.m., preschool half-day classes, both morning and afternoon sessions, are canceled, Gilbert Middle School will dismiss at 12:15 p.m., while all other district middle schools will dismiss at 12:05 p.m. Lexington High, White Knoll High and River Bluff High will dismiss at 12:45 p.m., while Pelion High and Gilbert High will dismiss at 12:25 p.m.

Lexington 3 will release students 30 minutes earlier, and all after school-related activities are canceled — including meetings, classes, practices and games. Batesburg-Leesville Primary School will dismiss at 11 a.m., Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School will dismiss at 11:15 a.m., Batesburg-Leesville Middle School will dismiss at 11:45 a.m., and Batesburg-Leesville High School will dismiss at noon.

Lexington 4 will transition to early dismissal for all schools, and all after school activities and athletics are canceled. The Early Childhood Center will release at 10:30 a.m., Sandhills Primary/Elementary at 10:45 a.m., Frances Mack Intermediate at noon, Sandhills Middle School at 11:30 a.m., Swansea High Freshman Academy at 11:45 a.m., and Swansea High at noon.

Richland 1 will dismiss students early, beginning with elementary schools at 11 a.m., high schools at 11:45 a.m., and middle schools at 12:30 p.m. After school programs and activities will be held as scheduled.

Richland 2 will dismiss elementary schools at 12:30 p.m., middle schools at 1:15 p.m. and high schools at 2 p.m. All district facilities will close early and after school activities and program will be canceled. The district reminded students that all assignment must be completed and turned in by Friday for them to be marked “present” for the e-learning day from earlier in the week on Tuesday.

This is a developing story and more school districts are expected to announce plans. Check back for more information.

This story was originally published January 11, 2024 at 12:22 PM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription