District 55
More District 55 trustees resign, election date set
Laurens County, South Carolina – While each had a different reason, District 55 trustees Todd Varner and Neal Patterson both submitted letters of resignation late afternoon prior to Monday evening’s special called meeting of the Laurens District 55 Board of Trustees. Both were in their first terms and Patterson had been serving as vice chair.…
Read MoreQuick exits abruptly end Dist. 55 Trustee meeting
Laurens, South Carolina – Barely 10 minutes after it started Monday evening, a meeting of the Board of Trustees for Laurens County School District 55 ended abruptly when three trustees walked out, leaving only Chairman Cathy Little, Trustee Mike Hughes and Superintendent Ameca Thomas remaining in their seats. Held this month in the LDHS Amphitheater,…
Read MoreDist. 55 offers virtual Mental Wellness resource meeting Wednesday evening
As the pandemic’s unseen costs begin to unfold on the mental health front, some wonder how school children will be impacted. Despite the massive challenge we face, there are growing resources to help families who are struggling. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1 in 5 children experience a mental disorder in a…
Read MoreDistrict 55 adopts Clear Backpack policy
District 55 has finalized its decision to enhance student safety by requiring clear backpacks starting with this upcoming school year, and it announced the decision in a Wednesday, July 7 press release. “With efforts to continue enhancing safety measures in Laurens County School District 55, the district will require all students to use clear backpacks…
Read MoreDistrict 55 plans metal detectors at LDHS
Laurens, S.C. – Starting next fall, Laurens District High students will need to navigate new entrances to the sprawling LDHS building due to the addition of four metal detectors which District 55 administration has ordered for the next school year. The decision to order the metal detectors was announced last Monday during the May 23…
Read MoreDistrict 55 board adopts modified calendar for 23/24 school year
Laurens, South Carolina – Laurens District 55 School Board on Monday night approved a change to a Modified School Year Calendar starting with the 2023/24 school year, meaning children will get eight weeks of summer vacation instead of ten weeks under the traditional schedule. In a presentation by Assistant Supt. for Pupil Services Jody Penland, the…
Read MoreTeacher discovers handgun at Laurens Elementary
A loaded handgun was discovered Friday morning in a classroom at Laurens Elementary School, Laurens County School District 55 officials reported. The weapon was discovered by a teacher who notified the School Resource Officer, an officer with the Laurens Police Department. The LPD will hold a press conference concerning the incident at 2 p.m. today…
Read MoreDistrict 55 goes to a week of virtual for three schools
Laurens, S.C. – Laurens County School District 55 announced Wednesday evening that three of the district’s schools will transition to virtual learning beginning Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, and continuing through Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. The campuses affected include Gray Court-Owings School, Hickory Tavern School, and Laurens District 55 High School. Students at the district’s remaining six…
Read MoreDelta variant dampens back-to-school excitement
From Page 1 of the Aug 1 issue of The Advertiser. Laurens County, S.C. – Just a few weeks ago it appeared that children were heading back to a school year finally free of COVID-19 fears, but the rapid increase in cases of the Delta variant has given pause to the back-to- school excitement. Last…
Read MoreCar driver leaves scene after morning collision with District 55 school bus
A Laurens County District 55 school bus had not yet picked up children when it collided with another vehicle early Friday morning, and now the Laurens Police Department is investigating the identity and whereabouts of the driver of the involved vehicle. A passerby called dispatch at 6:06 a.m on Friday, Feb. 19, and officers arrived…
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