Sumter School District and Liberty STEAM will have eLearning day Friday, officials say

Due to the high probability of heavy rain and strong winds associated with Hurricane Helene, Friday will be an eLearning day for all students and staff in Sumter School District and Liberty STEAM Charter School.

District spokeswoman Shelly Galloway and Liberty STEAM Executive Director Trevor Ivey confirmed the details on Thursday morning with The Sumter Item.

In Sumter School District, all after-school activities have been canceled for both today and Friday.

Since the local area is at risk of downed trees and power outages, in addition to flooding in low-lying areas, Galloway said that all schools and office buildings will be closed. Also, all activities -- including athletic events and field trips – have been cancelled.

As an approved eLearning district, Friday will not need to be made up, she added. Lessons and assignments will be posted in Schoology. Students who are unable to participate due to power outages, lack of internet service, or other barriers will be able to complete their eLearning assignments at a later time, she said.

“To ensure the safety of our students and staff, Sumter School District works in conjunction with emergency management and law enforcement officials when making decisions regarding inclement weather in our community,” Galloway said. “Although the forecast could change, we wanted to give our families and staff enough notice to prepare for the eLearning day.”

Given the forecast, Liberty STEAM will also transition to an eLearning day on Friday, Ivey said.