Schools and colleges announce closures ahead of Helene
WCJB | September 24, 2024
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – As Tropical Storm Helene approaches the Florida Gulf Coast, North Central Florida academic institutions are announcing plans to close. This story will be updated with additional closures as they are announced.
ALACHUA COUNTY
Alachua County Public School officials sent a letter to families stating school they be open and operating as usual on Wednesday.
The district plans to notify families and staff by 2 p.m. Wednesday about plans for Thursday, September 26.
MARION COUNTY
Marion County Public Schools will close Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, because of Tropical Storm Helene. All extra-curricular activities for Thursday are also canceled.
West Port High School will open as a special needs shelter on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Members of the general community may seek shelter beginning at 4 p.m. West Port High will also serve as the only pet shelter as of now.
MCPS will continue monitoring Tropical Storm Helene and consulting with Marion County Emergency Management to determine plans for Friday.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Columbia County Schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27, due to the impending Hurricane Helene.
Classes will resume on Monday, September 30.
GILCHRIST COUNTY
All public schools in Gilchrist County will close at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Schools will remain closed on Thursday and Friday. All after-school activities are canceled Wednesday through Friday.
LEVY COUNTY
Levy County Schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, September 25-26 due to shelter openings and inclement weather. No extracurricular activities will be held on Thursday. A decision on Friday has yet to be made.
DIXIE COUNTY
Dixie County District Schools will be closed Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27 due to inclement weather. Students are also out on Wednesday due to a previously scheduled closure.
UNION COUNTY
Union County School District has announced “Professional Development Day” as scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 25th. Schools are closed for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27, 2024.
The Friday Night Tigers Football game has also been postponed and are working to reschedule.
SUWANNEE COUNTY
The Suwannee County School District will close school operations from Thursday, September 26, through Friday, September 27. There will be no before or after-school activities, including athletic events or practices, during this period of closure.
The Suwannee County School District will resume regular operations on Monday, September 30, for the already scheduled Professional Development Day, weather and utility conditions permitting.
Students will return as scheduled on Tuesday, October 1.
SANTA FE COLLEGE (SF)
Santa Fe College is open on Wednesday. Additional updates will be shared by Noon on Wednesday.
FLORIDA GATEWAY COLLEGE (FGC)
Florida Gateway College, including all offices and campuses, will be closed Thursday, September 26, and Friday, September 27.
All in-person classes, college activities, and events during this time will be canceled or postponed.
Normal operations are expected to resume on Monday, September 30.
THE COLLEGE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (CF)
The College of Central Florida will close all campuses and sites for Tropical Storm Helene.
The CF Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus and CF Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus will both close at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 25, to provide time to prepare for the storm. All other CF campuses and sites, including online, will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 25, and will remain closed through Friday, Sept. 27.
The college plans to reopen Saturday morning for all business operations, weather permitting.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (UF)
The University of Florida will announce any closures due to the storm by noon on Wednesday.
