Several WNC school districts have been closed “indefinitely.”

(WLOS) — As cleanup efforts continue in Helene, western North Carolina, many school districts are making the difficult decision to close indefinitely.

The list includes Asheville City Schools, AB Tech and Polk County Schools. Other districts announced plans to remain closed the rest of the week.

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Some schools have been able to provide additional information to residents of their areas:

ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS:

“It breaks my heart to see the devastation to our beloved city and surrounding communities following Hurricane Helene. As we continue to recover from the tremendous impact, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your strength, resilience and support.” I have lived here in Asheville for just over a year and our community continues to amaze me. We have faced incredible challenges, but your courage, compassion and resilience have been a beacon of hope during this difficult time.

Since early last week, our dedicated staff have been working around the clock to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Helene and the impact it has had on our community. The destruction caused by the hurricane is immense and the road to recovery will be long. However, I know that together we will overcome these obstacles and emerge stronger than ever. Fortunately, the damage to our schools was minimal.

One of the biggest obstacles to opening schools is the lack of water throughout the city, including all ACS campuses. I met with city officials yesterday and they told me we should expect a week without water and strongly advised that we need to plan for longer. Another major barrier to returning students to school is transportation for students and staff. At this point, navigating the city using buses is nearly impossible. Additionally, many of our employees live outside the city and fuel availability is limited, making it nearly impossible for employees to report to their workplaces. We have discussed the possibility of remote learning, but with power and internet outages continuing to be widespread, this is untenable at this time. I am committed to opening our schools as soon as it is safe to do so. I will continually assess our situation and provide regular updates.

I would also like to express my deep gratitude to our maintenance team who worked tirelessly with first responders and city and county officials to assess the damage and begin the recovery process. Their commitment and expertise were invaluable. ACS facilities like the field at Asheville High School have been an integral part of the recovery process for transporting individuals in medical crises. We also donated food from our schools to help feed first responders.

I also want to thank our dedicated teachers, staff and administrators for their tireless efforts to support our students and families during this crisis. Your commitment to our community is truly inspiring. We are the Cougar Crew and together we can weather any storm.

As we move forward, I urge you to continue to prioritize the health and safety of you and your families. Take care of yourself and each other. We are working with school leaders to ensure our support efforts are integrated into recovery efforts already in place to maximize impact. If you’re looking for ways to help, follow ACS and your school’s social media for opportunities to get involved.

With great love and gratitude for our cougar community,”

– Superintendent, Dr. Maggie Fehrman

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BUNCOMBE COUNTY:

PUBLISHED IN SEP. 29: Good morning, BCS families. We are working closely with Buncombe County emergency officials around the clock as our region continues to grapple with the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. We are very grateful for the heroic efforts of first responders and emergency personnel to protect and assist families. Due to the tremendous impact on our families and neighborhoods, the decision has been made to close all Buncombe County schools for the entire week, Monday, September 30th through Friday, October 4th. The school will remain closed in the coming days, weeks and months. The system is committed to continuing to support our families and employees. We hope that you and your family continue to do well. We will continue to keep you updated as our team works to safely reopen our schools. Thank you very much.

MACON COUNTY:

“Macon County Schools – Franklin, Highlands and Nantahala will be closed to students on Tuesday, October 1st and Wednesday, October 2nd. Both days are optional work days for faculty and staff. Student meal pickup will be available on Wednesday, October 2nd 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at East Franklin Elementary School, Iotla Valley Elementary School, Cartogechaye Elementary School, South Macon Elementary School, Highlands School and Nantahala School, in collaboration with Macon County Emergency Management staff. will continue to provide school system updates as they become available.”

JACKSON COUNTY:

“Jackson County Public Schools is closed to students today (10/1) and tomorrow (10/2). The 2.10. is an optional teacher work day. We have not made a decision about Thursday and Friday (10/3 – 10/4). As soon as we do, I will let you know.

Below is a message we posted on our social media about free meals through Wednesday:

Jackson County Public Schools will distribute meals to adults and children at the following locations on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 1 and 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A hot lunch will be distributed and a take-away breakfast for the next day. To receive a meal, individuals must be present.

Blue Ridge School and Early College (before school)

Smoky Mountain High School (in the circle next to the cafeteria and additional gymnasium)

Smokey Mountain Elementary School (in the car pick-up line)”

YANCEY COUNTY:

“Yancey County Schools is closed to all students, faculty and staff this week. We will make an announcement by Thursday at 4:00 p.m. to inform employees of possible assignments for the following week. There is currently no reopening date for students, but we will continue to communicate as we have more information.

Our top priority at this time is the safety of our students, staff and families. If there are employees who can travel safely, we would appreciate your help. Please stop by the main office or contact your school principal to find out where we can use your help.

Anyone who needs help can contact the local fire department. There is also a shelter at Blue Ridge Elementary where you can get food, supplies and clothing. If you can’t get there, contact the local fire department. She will then help you get to the emergency shelter.

You can also get food and clothing at the Reconciliation House in Burnsville.”

POLK COUNTY:

“Continue to report that we are closed until further notice and are continuing to provide basic needs. We will update this as soon as we assess this.”

AB TECH

PUBLISHED IN SEP. 28 -AB Tech remains closed until further notice due to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene on our community. The college is currently providing space for two Buncombe County government emergency shelters.

UNC ASHEVILLE:

PUBLISHED IN SEP. 30 – The university is currently placing great emphasis on the safe accommodation of all students remaining on campus. Arrangements are being made to transport all students safely.

UNC Asheville remains in State 3 (Closure) and is currently operating without power, running water, cell service or internet. The university will remain closed until at least Monday, October 7th. Classes will be suspended until at least Wednesday, October 9th.