Volusia, Flagler schools close for Tropical Storm Nicole; shelters to open

Danielle Johnson, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read

A little over a month after Tropical Storm Ian closed schools in Volusia and Flagler counties, Tropical Storm Nicole is threatening classroom time as well.

Volusia County Schools announced on Facebook Tuesday afternoon that all public schools and administrative offices will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10. No school-sponsored activities will occur during that time.

"Superintendent (Carmen) Balgobin is in constant communication with the Volusia County Emergency Management Center regarding the impending storm," the post stated.

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Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin, left, meets with staff and volunteers at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, where 18 students and their families were living after Hurricane Ian.
Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin, left, meets with staff and volunteers at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, where 18 students and their families were living after Hurricane Ian.

Coincidentally, students already had no school on Tuesday for Election Day and were already scheduled for no school on Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.

Four shelters, all of which are pet-friendly, will open by 10 a.m. on Wednesday:

  • Hinson Middle School (special needs) at 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach.

  • Heritage Middle School (special needs) at 1001 Parnell Court, Deltona.

  • Creekside Middle School (general population) at 6801 Airport Road, Port Orange.

  • University High School (general population) at 1000 W Rhode Island Ave, Orange City.

The two missed instruction days will be made up during the second semester.

The school board workshop and meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9., will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Nov. 15.

When Tropical Storm Ian hit in late September, all Volusia County schools closed for five days, and four schools served as shelters for the public.

Students lost 25 hours of instruction at that time, of which seven hours are being made up by converting seven early release days into regular school days.

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Flagler Schools announce closures

In a press release sent Tuesday afternoon, Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt announced that schools will have an early release day Wednesday "to prepare for the advancing tropical storm."

All schools will start at regular times. Middle school students will be released at noon, high school students at 1 p.m. and elementary students at 2 p.m. Elementary extended day programs will be open until 4:30 p.m., but other after-school programs and athletics are canceled Wednesday.

All classes, as well as campus and district activities, are canceled Thursday. Students are already off on Friday for Veterans Day.

The district announced that it would not decide on make-up days until later in November, but it does not anticipate using the scheduled hurricane makeup days on Thanksgiving week.

Rymfire Elementary, located at 1425 Rymfire Drive in Palm Coast, will be the only shelter to open in Flagler County. It will serve the general public, individuals with special needs and pets.

During Ian, Flagler County schools closed for just three days, and Rymfire Elementary and Bunnell Elementary were converted to shelters for the public.

Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tropical Storm Nicole: Volusia, Flagler schools announce closures