LUMBERTON — The Public Schools of Robeson County will re-open for students on Tuesday after closing Sept. 11 as Hurricane Florence neared and then struck, leaving nearly all 41 schools with some damage and possibly mold.
Teachers and staff will report to the county’s public schools on Monday for a required work day to prepare for the return of Robeson’s approximately 24,000 students, according to Superintendent Shanita Wooten. The central office, which was flooded, has been relocated to Lumberton Junior High School.
The state legislature has granted flexibility for making up for 25 lost days in Robeson County, Wooten said. The state has waived up to 20 days of classroom time and allowed schools to extend the school year beyond June 11. The school board will make the final determination.
Teachers and staff will be paid for days they were out of work during Hurricane Florence. The school board will rule on compensation for employees who worked while school was out.
The state government also has reached out to help Robeson County’s public schools reopen their doors.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction announced Friday that the Public Schools of Robeson County will receive $1,408,451 from the Lottery Reserve Fund to help the county get schools operational again, according to Tasha Oxendine, a PSRC spokesperson.
Gov. Roy Cooper transferred $25 million in Lottery Reserve Funds to the Department of Public Instruction to be used to help districts and charter schools clean, remediate, and reopen schools, according to Oxendine. The transfer was made possible because Cooper acted under his authority under the state Emergency Management Act.
Wooten made the official reopening announcement Sunday afternoon after consulting with maintenance workers, principals and administrative staff.
“We couldn’t be any more excited,” she said in a statement. “Not many times do you get a do-over. We will have a second ‘first’ day of school. Let’s make the best of it.
“We are Robeson Strong. Even more than that, we are PSRC Strong! Indeed, we recovering and have been moving forward since the storm.”
The schools closed on Sept. 11 in advance of the storm. After the rain ceased, building inspections were followed by repairs, cleaning, testing for mold and remediation where needed.
Maintenance crews worked through the arrival of Tropical Storm Michael and this past weekend to perform final cleanup work, Wooten said. As of Friday morning, they still had their work cut out for them: 11 schools still had “significant concerns,” 15 schools had “minor issues” and six schools were not cleared to reopen.
So far this school year, students have been out of the classroom more than in.
“Learning has taken a back seat to surviving,” Wooten said. “With this in mind, all schools and teachers are willing and ready to help our children cope with the storm by providing stability, support and routine as well as a space to process their trauma.”
The Public Schools of Robeson County has received funding from the state to assist with immediate repair needs. Ongoing maintenance in schools should not cause significant disruptions to the instructional day or interfere with normal school operations, the superintendent said. Unforeseen issues or newly reported damages in schools that jeopardize the safety, health and well-being of staff and students, will be resolved as quickly as possible.
Displaced students have the legal right to remain in their home school, although accommodations will be made to process transfers, Wooten said. Transportation for displaced students will be worked out.
Other changes are also needed. Deadline for proof of immunizations has been delayed until Dec. 1. Some bus routes will be altered because of continued road closures. Other deadlines have been delayed.
Monday will be a busy day for teachers and administrators who will first inspect every corner of their schools. Teachers will prepare for instruction on Tuesday and social workers will work to identify and contact displaced students.
District staff members already have worked for two weeks to identify students whose families were forced from their homes by floodwaters. Their special needs will be addressed, Wooten said.
“We have spoken with a number of students throughout the district at local churches, community centers, satellite stations, and local town libraries,” Wooten said. “The emotional and academic impacts of the storm could plague our students’ psyches and school successes for years to come.
“We will make sure that our students are not neglected educationally and their personal needs remain the top priority. To do so, we need our students back in the school buildings so we can continue pursuing the goals we set forth at the beginning of the school year.”
The superintendent thanked maintenance and other staff members for their work to get the school year restarted after the storm.
“We truly want to thank all PSRC employees who have volunteered their time over the past few weeks,” Wooten said. “Their hard work has not gone unnoticed, and we look forward to the great things we are able to achieve this school year.”
