Richmond County kids return to school nearly 3 weeks after Helene
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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - School is back in session for thousands of Richmond County students after more than two weeks since the storm.
A major concern for parents on Wednesday was safety.
Debris cluttering the roads means school buses are changing routes and parents are being asked to escort their kids to school if at all possible as the cleanup continues.
Parents and students in the Richmond County School System have some mixed emotions about kids going back to school on Wednesday.
While some parents are ready for kids to return to school, it’s how they’re getting there that’s making them worry.
“Once we cross the street this is the way my son and I walk,” said parent Hannah Lyons.
Helene debris spurs changes in Richmond County bus routes
Students in the Richmond County School System will return to the classroom on Wednesday, according to school officials – and there will have to be some changes to bus routes because of Hurricane Helene debris.
But now debris blocks the way for students trying to get to school.
“I don’t disagree that it’s important to get kids back to school so they can have normalcy. I know schools provide hot meals for a lot of kids, and that’s essential for a lot of these kids. It’s mostly just about prioritizing safety for children in our communities,” said Lyons.
But whether they’re walking to school or taking the bus, parents are concerned about the safety of students.
“My concern is for drivers that maybe aren’t paying as close attention, or just don’t see them until it’s too late,” said Lyons.
At Copeland Elementary, just one of the schools in the district, debris piling up on the side of the road is not an uncommon sight right now, making some wonder when is the best time to go back to school after Hurricane Helene.
“I can’t wait until they go back,” said a Richmond County parent.
Augusta Transit resumes regular schedules on all its bus routes
All routes were shut down in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, then the agency began offering limited services a few days ago. Now things are mostly back to normal.
But as a parent, he still has concerns when it comes to his kid’s safety.
The district says to expect bus delays and alternate pick-up locations and to drive your kids to school if possible.
Most schools will be impacted by roadside debris, so be cautious as they will not be counting tardies.
“It’s gonna be experience going back and trying to get back into things,” said a Richmond County School student. “But I mean, maybe I could like, see my friends and things of that nature.”
The school district says 100% of their classrooms are ready to start back up on Wednesday even though some are enjoying the delay.
Early voting in Georgia begins for November election
We spoke with Executive Director for Richmond County Board of Elections Travis Doss who says some polling locations will change because of the damage from the storm.
Parents hope our local leaders can help find a solution to get the roadways and sidewalks near schools cleared.
“It’s just kind of more of a team effort that I am not sure was really taken into here. Hopefully, parents reporting this morning to their schools about it, or even maybe students approaching their principals or counselors at school and just informing them it’s just not safe,” said Lyons.
There’s still a lot of cleanup to be done around the city to get us back to a new normal, but the hope is that roadways and sidewalks leading to the schools get cleared soon now that school is back in session.
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