Horry County Schools proms canceled as coronavirus closures continue through April
All Horry County Schools high school proms scheduled in April are canceled after state orders to continue closures due to coronavirus.
The district announced the cancellation Wednesday of all school events in April, including galas, dances, concerts, plays and athletic competitions.
The decision comes a day after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and the state’s Education Superintendent jointly announced that public schools, which have been closed since March 16 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, will remain closed until the end of April.
Nine HCS high schools had proms scheduled in April, and the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology had its spring gala scheduled for April 24. The district noted in a news release that it was unable to determine if or when these events could be rescheduled at a later date.
District spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier responded that she did not have any additional information when asked whether the district planned to provide refunds for students who had purchased prom tickets.
HCS has pivoted to an eLearning curriculum, offering personal digital learning devices to students in grades 3-12, and the district also announced Wednesday that additional assignments will be added to their learning plan.
HCS posted recommendations for parents and students to submit completed assignments to teachers electronically, while also offering the opportunity to drop off assignments at schools on Fridays 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or 4-6 p.m.
The district also noted in its news release that it understands students may have difficulties turning in assignments by the March 27 third-quarter deadline, so students will be given additional time, but those assignments will be considered incomplete, and entered as a zero in the gradebook, until they’re submitted.
The district is also offering free meals to students for pickup at various locations or for delivery during specific times.
Those free meals will continue to be offered during spring break, which will continue as scheduled April 10-17, when instruction will cease and parents will not be able to pick up or drop off assignments at the schools.
