Fri Oct 04 22:06:00 UTC 2024: ## Valdosta Schools to Resume Classes Next Week Following Hurricane Helene
**VALDOSTA, GA** – Both Valdosta City Schools (VCS) and Lowndes County Schools have announced plans to resume classes next week following the impact of Hurricane Helene. Faculty and staff for both school systems will return to work on Monday, October 7th.
VCS students will return to class on Tuesday, October 8th, while Lowndes County Schools will welcome students back on Wednesday, October 9th.
VCS Director of Public Relations, Jennifer Steedley, acknowledged the community is still recovering from the storm but emphasized the importance of providing normalcy for students. “Our priority is compassion over compliance,” she said, “and we are here to support you in any way we can.”
Steedley outlined efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of students, including damage assessments, debris removal, building cleaning, network restoration, and the distribution of shelf-stable meals to families.
VCS buses will begin operating at 7:30 am each day from Tuesday, October 8th, through Friday, October 11th. Drivers will exercise extra caution due to debris on roads. Afternoon drop-offs may be delayed. Detailed arrival and dismissal times will be released by noon on Monday, October 7th.
Lowndes County Superintendent Sandra Wilcher acknowledged that storm damage was more significant at county schools, impacting internet access at most facilities. However, she assured families that “with Monday and Tuesday used as planning days, we are confident in our ability to continue providing quality education for our students with or without the Internet.”
Both school districts are working to restore phone access and will be using email as the primary contact method for communication at this time. Families are encouraged to be patient as bus routes are assessed and adjusted.
Fall break remains scheduled for October 14-18.
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