Goldsboro – Due to swollen rivers, closed roads, and high losses of food in school cafeterias, Wayne County Public Schools will remain closed to students and staff for the remainder of the week.
“Our maintenance crews have been in our schools assessing damage since before the storm left our area,” states Dr. Michael Dunsmore, Wayne County Public Schools (WCPS) Superintendent. “Fortunately, our school buildings and grounds held up well during Florence. However, our cafeterias sustained high losses of food. In addition to having frozen food lost due to power outages, the district also provided food from operating freezers to the Wayne County Emergency Operations Center during the storm to support shelter operations.”
Once WCPS kitchens and freezers can be cleaned and food deliveries can resume, schools will be better equipped for students to return. The district administration continues to remain in close communication with the Wayne County Emergency Operations Center to monitor road closures, river levels, and forecasts for when it will be safe to have students, staff, and school buses on the road.
“It is our plan to give families 48 hours notice in announcing when students are expected to return to class,” adds Dr. Dunsmore. “Additionally, we plan to hold at least one teacher workday prior to the return of students to give teachers time to get their classrooms in order.”
The district has been closed to students and staff since Wednesday, September 12.
“Because we have been out of school so many days, I have been in communication with Representative Dixon and members of the General Assembly. It is my hope that the general assembly can provide calendar flexibility in forgiving these days, similar to what occurred after Hurricane Matthew two years ago,” Dr. Dunsmore said.
