Multiple Midlands school districts switch to online classes as storm approaches

Some Midlands school districts are shutting down in-person classes on Friday as Tropical Storm Nicole threatens South Carolina with severe weather.

The storm is expected to produce heavy rain, gusty winds, flash flooding, and isolated tornadoes in the Midlands beginning Thursday and lasting through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here’s a look at where specific districts stand and any plans that have been released:

Richland 1

All Richland 1 schools and administrative buildings will be closed Friday, which will be an e-learning day for students and a work-from-home day for employees. Additionally, all after-school activities scheduled for Thursday have been canceled.

Richland 2

Richland 2 will switch to an eLearning/remote work day on Friday. This means all school buildings and district facilities will be closed and all after-school activities are canceled. Officials said the switch was made based on the potential for hazardous travel conditions.

Lexington-Richland 5

All schools in the district, including FIVE, will transition to an eLearning day on Friday. Other events in the district have also been affected, including

▪ Dutch Fork High School’s playoff game has been postponed until 8 p.m. at Dutch Fork High

▪ Irmo High School’s playoff football game will take place Saturday at 6pm at James Island Charter High School

▪ The AAAA Competitive Cheerleading Qualifier at Irmo High School has been postponed until Monday at 6 p.m.

Lexington 1

All schools will shift to e-learning on Friday. That means the school buildings and offices will close Friday, with teachers assigning both virtual instruction and/or take-home lessons. Because power outages are possible, students will have five school days to complete all assignments to be counted present.

Additionally, all after-school activities and sports are canceled for Friday.

Lexington 2

Out of an abundance of caution, Lexington 2 schools will move to an eLearning day on Friday, and all after-school activities, programs and athletic events that were scheduled for Friday are canceled or will be rescheduled. Thursday afternoon’s after-school programs and activities will continue as scheduled, but the Thursday night activities will be canceled or rescheduled.

Lexington 3

Lexington 3 said Friday will be an eLearning day for students and staff members across the district.

Lexington 4

In coordination with other Lexington County school districts, Lexington 4 will transition to an e-Learning day for all schools on Friday. All after-school activities and athletics are canceled for Friday.

Lee County

All after school activities, including athletic events, and field trips are canceled Thursday, and Friday will be an eLearning day for all students. This means schools and office buildings will be closed, and all activities, including athletic events and field trips, are canceled.

Orangeburg County

All after-school activities scheduled for Thursday are canceled, and students will have an eLearning day on Friday.

Clarendon County

Out of an abundance of caution because of the threat of Tropical Storm Nicole, Clarendon County School District will operate on an e-Learning schedule Friday.

Calhoun County

School officials said that Friday will be an eLearning day for students.

Fairfield County

As a result of potentially hazardous weather conditions, the Fairfield County School District will have an eLearning Day on Friday.

Kershaw County

After school officials initially said they were not making changes to the school schedule, they reversed course saying Friday is now an eLearning day. All school buildings and offices will be closed.

MISC.

Columbia officials canceled the Veterans Day parade after several event entries canceled, in addition to staff assessing weather forecasts for Friday.

This is a developing story, check back to see if there are any additional changes, or if any other area school districts adjust their schedules.