ROCK HILL, S.C. — Students and teachers of Rock Hill Schools will return to their classrooms on Wednesday days after a severe thunderstorm caused extensive damage in York County Saturday. The schools will operate on a two-hour delay.
Since the storm Saturday, a cleanup effort has been underway to remove fallen trees, downed powerlines, and storm debris across the area. On Monday and Tuesday, students were encouraged to complete virtual assignments at-home while officials worked to repair schools and school buses.
"The school district is not able to fully function for safe school operations," the school district said earlier in the week on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter. In their messages, the school district cited debris in roadways and the ongoing power outages as the need to close the school buildings.
Now the school buildings will reopen with school district officials saying a two-hour delay is needed on Wednesday "to give our buses, staff and families time to navigate potential risks traveling to schools."
School buses were among the things damaged by Saturday's storm. The school district thanked the South Carolina Department of Education on Tuesday for sending assistance in repairing school buses.
In photos posted to social media, a technician can be seen repairing broken mirrors.
Half-day Pre-K classes at Ebinport, Central Child Development Center, and ATC will be canceled for Wednesday, according to the school district.
Students unable to complete remote assignments on Monday and Tuesday due to a lack of electricity, Internet or other restrictions, will have five days to complete the work, the district said.
Rock Hill severe thunderstorm damage
The National Weather Service concluded the thunderstorm produced 90 mph winds and baseball-sized hail.