October 28, 2024
Thank you again for your grace and strength, and for showing that as a Buncombe County Schools family, Together We Rise!
Buncombe County Schools announcing the return of students on Friday, nearly one month to the day that Hurricane Helene brought devastation to western North Carolina.
What To Know: Buncombe County remains one of the hardest hit areas of the Southeast, where flooding from Hurricane Helene left 42 people confirmed dead and others still missing. Asheville City Schools Superintendent Maggie Fehrman said that while none of the city’s schools were damaged, “We have several students that lost family members. We have staff members who lost family members.” So, while the schools are finally able to open their doors, the mental health of the district’s students and staff will be the priority. “We really stick together in Asheville City Schools, we’re a smaller district and it’s nice that we all know each other and can lean in and support each other, but many of our students are still struggling to fill basic needs with their families.”
Read More: Students return to school in Asheville, North Carolina, area as community continues Helene recovery (CNN)
Image Credit: Buncombe County Schools
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
