District 55
District 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…
Read MoreDistrict 55’s Spires Named 2021 SCASL Librarian of the Year
Laurens, S.C. – On Tuesday, Feb. 2, Michelle Spires, Media Specialist at Gray Court-Owings Elementary/Middle School (GCO), was named the 2021 Librarian of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL). In a ceremony held at GCO, Spires was astonished when Tamara Cox, the Awards Chair for SCASL, arrived on campus with…
Read MoreSome District 55 elementary students to begin full return mid-October
From the Wednesday, Sept. 30 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser Laurens, SC – With a five to two vote, Laurens District 55 Board of Trustees on Monday night approved Superintendent Dr. Ameca Thomas’ recommendations to begin gradually bringing elementary age children back to school five days a week, and the first group will begin…
Read MoreSome Dist. 55 elementary grades return to face-to-face Oct. 12
The complete story is in the Wednesday, Sept. 30 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser, and online posted Friday, Oct. 2. Laurens-SC – With a five to two vote, Laurens District 55 Board of Trustees on Monday night approved Superintendent Dr. Ameca Thomas’ recommendations to gradually begin bringing elementary age children back to school five days…
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