(WGHP) — Several school districts throughout the Piedmont Triad are taking precautions ahead of heavy rainfall expected from Tropical Storm Debby.
Debby is forecasted to make another landfall Thursday morning along the South Carolina coast, between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, then make its way north, through the Piedmont. Torrential rainfall is possible across North Carolina starting Thursday morning and extending through Friday morning.
School districts are listed below in alphabetical order, including the statements issued by those school districts.
Surry County, which was the only district with an official first day of school scheduled for as early as Aug. 8, has now pushed the official first day back to Aug. 12, the same date that Lexington City Schools and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools are scheduled to start classes.
See all local closings and delays.
Alamance-Burlington School System
Alamance County is expected to get heavy rainfall and high winds with the incoming storm. Projections for heaviest rainfall and winds in the triad begin in the early morning Thursday and Friday.
Thursday, Aug. 8 and Friday, Aug. 9 will be remote learning days for our Early College students and closed for students in our Read to Achieve Summer School. The Read to Achieve Summer Camp will have a makeup day on Monday, Aug. 12.
Non-congregate meal pick-up in the Eastern Zone scheduled on Thursday, Aug. 8 will be canceled.
Middle and High School athletic practices, scrimmages, and workouts scheduled on Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9 will be canceled.
Guilford County Schools
In anticipation of hazardous weather conditions and out of an abundance of caution, all GCS schools currently in operation will be closed on Thursday, Aug. 8.
All district and school activities, including band and athletic practices, summer learning and summer meal distribution, will also be canceled.
Summer graduation will continue as scheduled.
Rockingham County School
In anticipation of hazardous weather conditions from Tropical Storm Debby and out of an abundance of caution, all Rockingham County Schools will be closed Thursday, Aug. 8.
All school activities, child care, and summer feeding & meal distributions are cancelled as well.
Surry County Schools
Our Surry County Schools Inclement Weather Team has been closely monitoring Hurricane Debby and receiving guidance from the National Weather Service. This afternoon, we received an updated weather report indicating that heavy rains will arrive tonight and continue into the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 9. We expect 3-5 inches of rainfall over a 24-48 hour period, and Surry County is currently under a Flood Watch.
The potential for flash flood conditions could impact student drivers, bus routes, and overall safety on Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9.
Therefore, we have decided to move the first day of school to Monday, August 12.
To accommodate this change, we are adding two optional teacher workdays for staff on Thursday, Aug. 8, and Friday, Aug. 9. The student calendar will be adjusted in the future.
Safety is the top priority for Surry County Schools, and we believe this decision to be in the best interest of our students, staff, and families. We look forward to welcoming our students on the new first day of school. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe over the next few days during this severe weather event.
Thomasville City Schools
Wednesday, Aug. 7 – No Afterschool Activities
Thursday, Aug. 8 – Schools Closed
Due to the estimated arrival time and potential for significant rain, high winds and flooding, all afterschool activities including athletics will be canceled this afternoon Wednesday, August 7. On Thursday, August 8, all school activities including SOAR Summer camp and athletics will be canceled and schools will be closed. Please know we are monitoring the weather situation very closely and we will keep you updated if conditions change. Please be safe during this time and stay “weather aware”.
