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McMaster calls for return to in-person learning, several districts remain online after Winter Break
This latest push from the governor comes at the same time several Midlands districts have returned to virtual models for a short period of time following the winter break.
McMaster reallocates relief funds to benefit state education programs
The governor is giving millions to the Department of Social Services, state technical colleges and early childhood education programs.
SC superintendent tests positive for COVID-19
Spearman said she was tested on December 31 and was self-quarantined after being identified as a close contact to her husband and her son, who both tested positive for the virus.
Richland County Council, officials work to restore trust with the community
Richland County Council ushered in a new era, with five new council members being sworn in on Thursday.
MOST RECENT
Mother organizes petition for LR5 schools to return to full in-person learning
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Lexington School District One pulls plug on in-person learning after holidays
Dr. Little said district officials followed the same line of reasoning when it came to the decision to return to e-learning for the first week of January.
New program offers free college degrees to SC prisoners
Some prisoners in South Carolina will soon be able to attend college for free.
Tik Tok gifts $1 million to SC State to provide scholarships for minority healthcare students
SC State, according to university officials, is one of 10 historically black colleges and universities to receive the donation from the social media service.
‘It’s exhausting’: Richland 2 nurses struggle to contact trace with rising COVID cases
The strain on staff and school nurses is something Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis said played a role in their decision to return to virtual learning for the first two weeks of January.
Claflin to receive $20M donation from MacKenzie Scott
The donation, according to university officials, is the largest in Claflin’s 150-year history.
WATCH: How SC schools are confronting the challenges of COVID-19
Here in the Midlands, several school districts are returning to virtual learning due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Orangeburg Co. School District will move fully-virtual following Winter Break
District leaders anticipate that some in-person instruction through a hybrid model will available again beginning Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
Proposed S.C. bill would require high schoolers to take personal finance course
A bill pre-filed in the South Carolina State Senate would require high school students to take a personal finance course before they graduate.
Richland 1 in need of bus drivers, bus aides
Richland School District One is now hiring bus drivers and bus aides.
LR5 to return to virtual learning for 3 days after Winter Break
The district currently has a hybrid model for older students with younger students in class four days a week.
Dept. of Ed to give SC schools $84 million to help reopening efforts
The funding will be allocated to districts per pupil beginning the week of Dec. 14.
Richland One will move fully-virtual after Winter Break
Beginning Monday, Jan. 4, the district will return to eLearning to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
R2 cancels sports, other activities for Dec., will go virtual after Winter Break
In-person instruction will resume on January 19, 2021.
Superintendent Molly Spearman addresses COVID-19’s impact on schools
State Superintendent Molly Spearman spoke with WIS to address COVID-19’s impact on schools.
State Superintendent can’t say if vaccines will be required for students
The State Superintendent says she has not made a decision regarding whether South Carolina students will be required to get the coronavirus vaccine once it’s widely-available.
Student at Airport HS tased by SRO during brawl; family calls for policy changes
Five students involved with the fight have been arrested and charged with third-degree assault and battery.
Cardinal Newman goes virtual until January
It's a rare move for a private school in South Carolina.
SC teacher groups call on districts to move fully virtual, governor pushes for face-to-face learning
Despite health officials calling last week the worst in terms of new cases since the pandemic began, Governor Henry McMaster called on all districts to move or stay in five days a week face to face instruction during a news conference Wednesday.
Court again nixes SC gov’s private school pandemic aid plan
McMaster planned to take questions on the ruling later Wednesday.
FCC awards $121 million in rural broadband funding
Senator Lindsey Graham’s office says the FCC has awarded the state of South Carolina $121 million in rural broadband funding for over 100,000 unserved homes and businesses.
Entire A.C. Flora football team in quarantine after COVID-19 exposure
Officials said the news came just hours after the team's huge win Saturday night in the 4A Championship game.
Sumter School District returns to virtual learning
The change will begin on December 14th.
Lexington 2 school to go virtual after more than 10% of students, staff exposed to COVID-19
Under Lexington Two protocol, a school must temporarily switch to remote learning when this happens.
8-year-old who emigrated from Ukraine will soon compete in US national track championships
For USA Track and Field, Artem is currently listed as having the third fastest time this season for his age group in the 2000 meter race.
Mourning Lexington teacher’s death, friends and fellow teachers ask: ‘Am I next?’
Blakely’s death is the second publicly reported teacher death in the area this school year.
R2 teachers call for return to virtual learning as COVID-19 cases rise
Richland Two officials said they’ve had over 200 teachers resign since March, but that the number of resignations isn’t out of the ordinary.
Community mourns loss of Lexington elementary school teacher to COVID-19
Friends and those who had children in her class remember her as someone with a heart of gold.
Jackson Creek Elementary dismissing early after fire
District officials said there was a fire in a community restroom on the second floor of the school.
Caslen back in office following COVID-19 recovery
Caslen tested positive for the virus prior to Thanksgiving break, only experiencing mild symptoms at the time.
Lexington Co. third grade teacher dies from COVID-19 complications
Staci A. Blakely, a teacher at Carolina Springs Elementary School, passed away on Saturday, December 5.
Sumter School District earns Purple Star designation in support of military families
The Purple Star designation is given by the South Carolina Department of Education to school districts that make a significant contribution to supporting military families.
Lexington 2 teachers call out to make stand over safety
On Wednesday, the district transitioned its non-virtual students to five-days-a-week in-person learning, which is something the teachers said put them and their students at risk.
LR5 school board decides to revert to hybrid schedule for middle, high schools
The motion passed with a vote of 6 to 1.
Mother claims school left 5-year-old son unsupervised, alone by road
She said he was found off-campus by a custodian on the edge of nearby Old Orangeburg Road.
LR5 calls special meeting to discuss return to hybrid learning
Right now, the district is offering four days of in-person instruction each week, with one day of eLearning. There are growing concerns, though, about continuing with this model during the holiday season.
3 high schools in LR5 closed Tuesday following high number of staff absences
Teachers appear to have called out to make their displeasure known about the school board’s inaction regarding a return to hybrid learning.
Lawsuits claim UofSC discriminated against women on staff complaining of sexual harassment
The lawsuits claim the university did not take action and instead discriminated against them.
LR5 school board still debating return to hybrid schedule
This comes as COVID-19 cases among students and staff at schools across the state, and in LR5, have sharply increased.
UofSC president tests positive for COVID-19
University of South Carolina President Bob Caslen announced Wednesday he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Camden High students dismissed for eLearning Day following major water main break
Student drivers were allowed to leave at 9 a.m. Parent pick-up began at 9:15 a.m.
UofSC to require COVID-19 testing of students, staff in spring
Watch a live stream announcing the increased testing at 3 p.m. Monday.
University of South Carolina makes testing a priority as holiday break approaches
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, the university says they have the resources to complete about 2,000 tests per day.
SC Education Dept., State Supt. were ‘unaware’ of governor’s school testing kit announcement
According to South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), there are more than 2,000 cases among students in South Carolina. and more than 900 cases among school staff.
All SC public schools to get rapid COVID-19 testing kits
Schools should have the tests after the Thanksgiving holiday, health officials say.
DHEC: More than 3,200 cases of COVID-19 reported in K-12 schools in SC
Both public and private schools are included in these numbers.
Richland Two working to dispel rumors of COVID-19 outbreak at elementary school
No student at Windsor Elementary has the virus right now, a district spokeswoman said.
Lexington One announces e-learning holiday schedule
This schedule change does not affect the beginning of Thanksgiving Break or Winter break.
School nurses navigate response to COVID-19 on top of normal student caseload
On top of her normal workload, Starling is now the school’s main contact tracer, working to notify students or staff who may have been exposed to the virus.
Richland Two cancels all in-person classes during Thanksgiving week
Nov. 23 and 24 are now eLearning days.
Richland Library expands indoor services at some locations
Indoor services such as browsing for books and using the computer are now available at select locations.
Declining enrollment, COVID-19 forces UofSC to find ways cut costs, increase revenue
On Friday, the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees held a meeting with their Finance and Infrastructure committee getting some big updates on where the university stands in the last months of 2020 and how they plan to move forward.
Clemson to open special dorm community for LGBTQ students
Clemson University will open its first “living-learning community” for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students next fall.
Orangeburg Co. schools to shift hybrid learning schedule leading up to holiday breaks
School officials have announced that students, teachers, and staff will work virtually on the two days that precede this year’s Thanksgiving and Winter breaks.
Allen University gets major donation from Boeing
Boeing announced it will be donating $1.5 million to fund the renovation of the former Good Samaritan Waverly Hospital.
Batesburg-Leesville HS to begin 4-day-per-week in-person instruction for hybrid students this month
District officials said the students will attend classes in-person on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Gas leak causes evacuation at Irmo Middle School
No students were at the school at the time, district officials said.
Lexington One weighs increasing in-person days for high schoolers amid COVID-19, other transitions
DHEC is reporting 58 high schoolers in Lexington One have tested positive since it began tallying cases in schools.