Communications

Daily update for Wednesday, October 9, 2024

We are looking forward to another great day of learning tomorrow, for those students who are able, on Thursday, October 10, 2024. 

As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Friday, October 11, 2024, due to a planned staff Professional Learning Day. Schools will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2024, for the Columbus Day holiday.

Student Services

• Students in the Columbia County School District who have been displaced from their home due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, can contact their school’s social worker to identify areas of support that are available such as school meals and transportation. Find student support information such as contacts for school social workers, school psychologists, and more, on the CCSD hurricane response webpage ccboe.net/hurricane.  
• Parents of middle and high school students, please check your student’s school website for benchmark exam schedules. Benchmark exams are important to instruction and student learning, however, the scores for this quarter will only be applied if they benefit the student’s overall grade in the class.  

Transportation

• Our dedicated school bus drivers and transportation staff are continuing to safely transport students to and from school.
• The Edulog Lite School Bus Tracker App will continue to be updated daily with all route changes, including depot stop information.
• Those without power or internet connection may contact the CCSD Department of Transportation at 706-541-2729.
• We anticipate a high call volume as we work to return students and staff to the classroom, so we encourage parents to attempt to access the information they need using the app before contacting transportation.
• As previously posted, if a student misses their pickup time for any reason, please contact the Department of Transportation at 706-541-2729, and we will send a driver to pick up the student.
• We continue to anticipate delays during pickup and drop off as our school bus drivers slowly, and safely, navigate routes in the coming days and weeks. Thank you for your patience during this time.

Rescheduled Events

• Teacher of the Year Celebration – The annual celebration has been rescheduled to Monday, November 4, 2024 at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. We look forward to honoring all of our teachers of the year and naming a district winner.
• Building Program Community Presentations – The community presentations have been rescheduled, except for Grovetown High School, which took place before to the storm. Each presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held on the following dates:
  • Lakeside High School (as originally scheduled) - Tuesday, October 15, 2024
    • Feeder schools: Blue Ridge Elementary, Martinez Elementary, River Ridge Elementary, Stevens Creek Elementary, Lakeside Middle, Stallings Island Middle and Riverside Middle.
  • Evans High School – Monday, October 28, 2024
    • Feeder schools: Brookwood Elementary, Evans Elementary, Martinez Elementary, Lewiston Elementary, Columbia Middle, Evans Middle and Grovetown Middle.
  • Greenbrier High School – Tuesday, October 29, 2024
    • Feeder schools: Greenbrier Elementary, North Columbia Elementary, Parkway Elementary, River Ridge Elementary, Riverside Elementary, Greenbrier Middle, and Riverside Middle.
  • Harlem High School – Wednesday, October 30, 2024
    • Feeder schools: Euchee Creek Elementary, Grovetown Elementary, North Columbia Elementary, North Harlem Elementary, and Harlem Middle.
  • The public is welcome and invited to attend the meetings to provide feedback on the proposed comprehensive building program.
  • Read more about the CCSD’s Building Program and the plan for providing much-needed improvements and repairs to all schools at ccboe.net/buildingprogram.

Board Meeting Recognitions

The following presentations were recognized during last night’s Regular Session meeting of the Columbia County Board of Education. Find more special recognitions from last night’s meeting at www.ccboe.net/recognitions.

• On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the Georgia Department of Education released graduation rates for the class of 2024. The 4-year graduation rate for the Columbia County School District is 93.4%, which is an increase of 1.3% from last year. Four of our high schools saw increases and while there was a slight decrease at Greenbrier High School, though their rate remains above 94%. Congratulations, to our students and staff for their hard work.
• Three students from Lakeside High School and one student from Greenbrier High School were named National Merit Scholarship Program Semi-Finalists. From Lakeside High School – Jerry Fan, Julia Min, Matias Riveros-Amado, and Georgia Zhou. From Greenbrier High School – Nolan Parker. These students have been selected for their exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies, with proven academic records. As semifinalists, they represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, who are among the highest scoring on the SAT and ACT in the state. This is a prestigious title and we wish these students the best of luck as they go on to compete for scholarships next spring.
• Tiffany Weser, art teacher at the CCSD Columbia Virtual Academy, has received two prestigious awards. The National Art Education Association (NAEA) has named her the 2025 Teacher of the Year, and the Georgia Art Education Association (GAEA) has awarded Ms. Weser the Georgia Youth Art Month Award of Merit. Congratulations, Ms. Weser!
• Seven teachers in the CCSD were awarded grants totaling $35,000 from the Battelle Savannah River Alliance, the manager and operator of the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). These seven teachers were among 30 selected from 25 schools across the CSRA. Winners include the following: Marie Blindauer from Baker Place Elementary, awarded $5,000; Erica Cox from Blue Ridge Elementary, won $5,000; Allison Dixon from Greenbrier Elementary, awarded $2,500; Kristin Messer also from Greenbrier Elementary, awarded $5,000; April Demsko from Evans Middle, awarded $5,000; David Phillips from Greenbrier Middle, awarded $5,000; Michael Dinkins from Evans High School, awarded $5,000; and Laura Griffin from Harlem High School, awarded $2,500.
• Other noteworthy dates recognized at the meeting included National Custodial Appreciation Day (Oct. 2, 2024), and National Instructional Coaches Appreciation Day (Oct. 4, 2024); National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15, 2024) and National Principals Appreciation Month.
• The Columbia County Board of Education was recently named a 2024 Exemplary Board, the highest honor bestowed by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA). The recognition highlights the Board’s commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, and collaboration, all of which play a key role in enhancing educational opportunities for each student in the district. Congratulations, and thanks to each of our Board Members for the work you do for our students, staff and families.
• Special thanks to our CCSD Police Department staff for assisting local law enforcement with aiding our community in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Students from across the district were also seen volunteering to help clear debris among other efforts.

Daily update for Tuesday, October 8, 2024

We are looking forward to welcoming back all students, who are able, to the classroom tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9, 2024.

Students will not face any negative repercussions for not being able to come to school on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and Thursday, October 10, 2024, including exam exemptions or other attendance-related requirements.

As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Friday, October 11, 2024, due to a planned staff Professional Learning Day. Schools will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2024, for the Columbus Day holiday.

Student Safety

• We encourage students to remain diligent while traveling to and from school. This includes safety around downed power lines or leaning tree limbs.
• All lines on the ground near our schools have been reported to utility crews who have assured us they are not active. However, we encourage students to keep a safe distance out of an abundance of caution.

Student Services

• The SAT originally scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, has been rescheduled and College Board has notified all those who were registered to select a future test date.  

 

Nutrition Services 

• Congratulations, to the hardworking school nutrition staff for successfully passing health inspections at all schools. Our kitchens are safe and ready to serve students and staff.   

• As previously posted, all students will be provided breakfast and lunch at no cost on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and Thursday, October 10, 2024.
• Please see the revised menu for the week on our website at www.ccboe.net/hurricane. 

Transportation

• Schools have begun to notify parents of depot stops and other route changes that will be implemented tomorrow morning, October 9, 2024. Depot stops related to the impact of Hurricane Helene, will be in effect at least through Thursday, October 10, 2024.
• The Edulog Lite School Bus Tracker App has been updated as of this afternoon with all route changes, including depot stop information. 

• If possible, parents are encouraged to locate their student’s pickup and drop off location information via the Edulog Parent Portal Lite school bus tracker app. Those without power or internet connection may contact the CCSD Department of Transportation at 706-541-2729.
• We anticipate a high call volume, so we encourage parents to attempt to access the information they need using the app first before contacting transportation.
• As previously posted, if a student misses their pickup time for any reason, please contact the Department of Transportation at 706-541-2729, and we will send a driver to pick up the student.
• If a student is displaced due to the storm and not living at their same address and/or cannot be picked up at their home this week, parents are asked to provide their student with a handwritten note to ride a different school bus in the vicinity of the location of their temporary location. Additional documentation will be needed if the change will remain in effect after this week. Please contact the CCSD Department of Transportation, our school’s main office, or the school bus driver for the appropriate form. An electronic copy can be found at www.ccboe.net/hurricane. 

Communication

• We are utilizing every platform we have available to connect with families, however, we understand the power and internet outages are limiting for some.
• We ask our community to remain in touch with each other, by checking in with those in your neighborhoods with students in the CCSD, to help ensure everyone is receiving this and other important communication.

Daily update for Monday, October 7, 2024

As a reminder, the Columbia County School District schedule will welcome back all employees tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Students, who are able, will report on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and Thursday, October 10, 2024. There will be no school for students on Friday, October 11, 2024, due to a planned staff Professional Learning Day. Schools will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2024, for the Columbus Day holiday.

Student Services

• The PSAT for 10th grade students has been moved to Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
• The SAT originally scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, has been moved to Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Lakeside High School and Harlem High School.
• Report cards have been pushed back from their originally scheduled date and will now be available on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
• As previously posted, parents can rest assured that those students whose families are facing ongoing hardships such as displacement or continued outages with utilities next week, will not be counted absent.  
• Students will not face any negative repercussions for not being able to come to school on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and Thursday, October 10, 2024, including exam exemptions or other attendance-related requirements.

Nutrition Services  

• All students will be provided breakfast and lunch at no cost on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and Thursday, October 10, 2024.
• Please see the revised menu for the week on our website at www.ccboe.net/hurricane.
  
  

Transportation

In the coming days and weeks, our drivers will carefully and safely navigate changing routes due to unanticipated lane closures and other issues that may arise. We ask that our public be patient with us as we make necessary adjustments to ensure students arrive safely to their destinations.

• Depot stops are still being determined as our drivers continue to assess and practice routes today and tomorrow.
• Parents are encouraged to find their student’s pickup and drop off location information via the Edulog Parent Portal Lite school bus tracker app, if possible. Those without power or internet connection may contact the CCSD Department of Transportation at 706-541-2729.
• The CCSD Transportation team and school staff will work to connect with parents of students whose pickup locations have been changed to a shuttle stop.
• If a student misses their pickup time for any reason, please contact the Department of Transportation at 706-541-2729, and we will send a driver to pick up the student.
• If a student is displaced due to the storm and not living at their same address and/or cannot be picked up at their home, parents are asked to provide their student with a handwritten note to ride a different school bus in the vicinity of the location of their temporary location. Additional documentation will be needed if the change will remain in effect after this week. Please contact the CCSD Department of Transportation for the proper form at 706-541-2729.
  
  

Facilities Update

• Before and after school care will be available as normal.
• Power has been restored at Brookwood Elementary School and Blue Ridge Elementary School. As of this afternoon, all schools in the district have power.
• A planned statewide fire drill at all of our schools has been tentatively rescheduled to a later date to be determined.
  
  

 Technology

• Connectivity and internet is available at all of our schools.
• As utility companies continue efforts to restore our power grid, it is possible that intermittent outages may continue in the days and weeks to come. We ask that our families remain patient and flexible, as much as possible during this time of rebuilding.
  
  

Communication/Resources

• A CCSD Hurricane Response webpage has been created to house a variety of information regarding the impact of Hurricane Helene, at www.ccboe.net/hurricane.
• Information on the site includes all communication from the district from before and after the storm, as well as our daily updates.
• The information on the webpage also contains informational resources for families who may be in need as a result of the hurricane.

Below are the three individual notifications sent to parents on Thursday, September  26, 2024, in the order they were sent. 

September 26, 2024 - 8:30 a.m.

Columbia County School District officials are monitoring the weather, working closely with local emergency management and weather officials. This morning, weather officials issued a tornado warning for our area that has been lifted as of 8:15 a.m. Out of an abundance of caution, students and staff are taking all necessary safety precautions. All students and staff in portables will be moved indoors for the day. Additionally, school buses are experiencing delays in dropping off students due to localized flooding in the area.  

Safety of students and staff is a top priority and we will notify parents directly if and when a decision is made to alter the school day schedule. Parents can download the Edulog Lite Parent Portal School Bus Tracker App to track their child’s school bus.

Updates will also be available at www.ccboe.net.

September 26, 2024 - 10:30 a.m.

 

Out of an abundance of caution all after-school activities, including after-school care, are canceled for the day. The CCSD Career Fair has been canceled, and the Building Program Community Presentation will be rescheduled.

 

 

All schools and facilities in the Columbia County School District will be closed on Friday, September 27, 2024, due to anticipated inclement weather and other possible negative impacts from Hurricane Helene.  

Current forecasts indicate weather conditions will improve significantly throughout the day on Friday. Even though school athletics and activities are canceled, high school football games will remain as currently scheduled unless other notification is provided by the school.

September 27, 2024

In the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Helene and the impact on our community, we urge our staff, students, and families to remain focused on each other and on recovering from the damage of this devastating weather event. 

Just as the storm damaged homes and caused county-wide power outages, it also has affected our schools. At this time, we have been notified that power may not be restored to all of our facilities for at least a week. We will continue to receive updates and assess the situation.

The CCSD schools and facilities will be closed until at least through Wednesday, October 2, 2024. We will also share this news on our websites and via local news outlets. 

In the meantime, we ask that our staff, students, parents, and community members stay off school campuses to allow our crews time to assess and address any damages. 

As we all work to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene, we believe our families must come first. The days ahead will be difficult, and we should focus on our families, our community, and our well-being. Stay safe and take care.

Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Flynt
Superintendent