Laurens County Students Set to Return to School Following Storm Recovery Efforts

Laurens County Students Ready to Return to School After Storm Recovery

LAURENS, SC – As the sun shines brightly and temperatures soar to a pleasant 81°F this lovely October day, the community of Laurens County is buzzing with anticipation. After facing some tough days following a recent storm, Laurens County School District 56 is gearing up to welcome back students on October 14. It’s been a challenging time, but spirits are high as everyone prepares to get back to the classroom.

Overcoming Challenges

Just a short while ago, the schools were grappling with some significant hurdles. The administration faced issues with communication, struggling to make both inbound and outbound calls. Luckily, those challenges have been tackled, and now the lines of communication are wide open!

Superintendent Dr. David O’Shields shared that while the physical damages to the schools were manageable, the storm hit hard in more ways than one. “We had a tree bend a fence at the playground—nothing too drastic, but what hurt us most was losing a huge amount of food. We estimate that nearly $200,000 worth of food had to be thrown away!” he lamented.

Getting Back on Track

Despite the setbacks, the district is on the right track. Cindy Jacobs, the Public Information Officer, has been working closely with District Safety Officer Joey Avery to tackle repairs and make sure that everything is in order for the upcoming school week. “All of our buildings are fine! Sure, there are a few roof leaks and some downed trees, but thankfully none struck our buildings,” Jacobs explained. “Our maintenance team has done an incredible job inspecting each school and making sure all leaks get fixed.”

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, though. Friday night football games had to be canceled or rescheduled, but practices carried on. This allowed coaches to see their players and ensure they were doing okay. “Some of our students were impacted very hard and were among the last in the area to get power back. We did our best to assist those families by providing food,” O’Shields noted. “Our football team’s feedback and faces showed they appreciated every bit of help.”

Providing Support through Food Assistance

The schools came together to provide hot meals at Clinton High School for families in need. “We even started delivering food to families who couldn’t make it to us,” Jacobs shared. “We visited every single apartment complex and neighborhood in the district, ensuring no one went hungry.”

Lessons from Experience

As students head back to school after more than a week away, O’Shields has a thoughtful approach in mind. He hopes to turn the tough experiences into constructive lessons. “We plan to do a post-reflection assignment where the kids can talk about what they went through. It’s important to recognize how fortunate we are, but we also have to understand that South Carolina faced the second largest loss of life next to North Carolina,” he remarked solemnly. “There’s so much to learn from their experiences.”

A New Beginning Awaits

Schools serve as a second home to many kids, and the excitement in the air is palpable as they prepare to reunite with friends and teachers. O’Shields expressed confidence about returning to a sense of normalcy. “Our teachers have been so dedicated, coming in even when they’re not required to check on things. We’re all looking forward to relaxing routines and reconnecting!”

The community of Laurens stands resilient, ready to embrace both the challenges and joys that come with returning to school. With a sunny weekend ahead and highs of 81°F, it looks like the perfect weather to step out and enjoy this fresh start!