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October 4, 3pm:
Both Crystal River Primary School Principal Christina Touchton and Crystal River Middle School Principal Brian Lancaster have updated their families this evening regarding the storm recovery process at their respective schools.
As you know, both schools sustained water damage from Hurricane Helene and leaned on neighboring schools (Lecanto Primary School and Crystal River High School) this week to house students and staff and give alternative learning locations until schools reopen.
We are happy to report that much progress has been made at both CRPS and CRMS and we hope that momentum continues through the weekend. In fact, CRPS regained entry to both their media center and cafeteria this week.
Our Executive team, along with school administration teams, will be touring both campuses on Monday to formulate next steps on when campuses will be safe for students and staff to return.
A huge thank you to the incredible cleanup crews onsite who have been working around the clock to restore our campuses! We’re so grateful for the restoration specialists who have been working tirelessly at both schools to safely restore both buildings.
Our school community is amazing! We have certainly proven our strength and resilience this week. We've seen smiles and hugs from both students and staff and students have remained engaged in their classroom activities despite obstacles and unforeseen circumstances we have faced due to the storm.
We want to thank families for their continued patience and understanding as we all navigate this challenge together!
We will keep moving forward - Stronger Together!
September 28, 3pm:
On behalf of the Citrus County School District, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Helene. We are planning on resuming school on Monday, September 30th. Below is the plan for students and staff who attend Crystal River Primary School, Crystal River Middle School, and the Academy of Environmental Science. All families have received a phone call from their respective school Principals regarding a temporary alternative placement.
Crystal River Primary School:
- sustained significant water damage.
- unable to house all of our PK-5 students on campus.
- Self-Contained, Pre-K, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students will continue to have classes on the CRPS campus, though they may not be in their original classroom settings.
- Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd-grade students will report to the CRPS campus for attendance, and then will be transported by school bus to Lecanto Primary School (LPS), where their teachers will be present to instruct them. These students will return to CRPS by bus at the end of the instructional day, in time for regular dismissal at 3:35 p.m.
Crystal River Middle School:
- At this time, it is not safe for anyone to be on campus due to damage sustained from Hurricane Helene.
- Beginning Monday, September 30th, all students and staff will be relocating temporarily to the Crystal River High School Campus. All staff will report to the Crystal River High School Cafeteria on Monday to begin the day.
- School Hours will remain the same, 7:50-2:20.
AES:
- Students and staff will be at school on Monday. The only question is location. If power is restored to AES before Monday, students and staff will report to AES campus. If the campus does not have power, students and staff will hold classes temporarily at the Chamber of Commerce building.
- The principal will be in touch with all AES families and staff with any updates.
Homosassa Elementary School:
- No damage sustained to any of the buildings on campus. School will resume normally for students and staff.
We understand this is not an ideal situation, and we did not come to this decision lightly. Please know that the safety and well-being of all our students and staff are at the forefront of our decision-making process. We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we work through this challenging time.
For questions, please contact your school’s administration team.
September 27 4pm - Hurricane Helene UPDATE:
We hope all of our Citrus Schools families are safe. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who were in the direct path of Hurricane Helene and received the brunt of this storm’s damage.
As originally planned, all schools and offices were closed today. We will resume school operations on Monday, Sept. 30.
What those plans will look like for our schools on the west side are still to be determined, but trust that we are making decisions based on staff and student safety. Once we have more details on the state of some of our schools, families will be notified of any changes.
September 24th 11am - TROPICAL STORM HELENE UPDATE:
As all of our schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27 - some schools will serve as hurricane shelters.
The following shelters will open on Wednesday, September 25, at 2PM.
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
➤ 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 (cafeteria): 600 West Highland Blvd, Inverness, Florida 34452
➤ 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹: 185 West Citrus Springs Blvd, Citrus Springs, Florida 34434
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀:
➤ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹: 2927 N Forest Ridge Blvd, Hernando, FL 34442
𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆:
➤ 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿: 3630 West Educational Path Lecanto, Florida 34461
If you need further assistance, please call CCSO's 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 at 352-249-2775 starting on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟱, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟴𝗔𝗠-𝟭𝟬𝗣𝗠. They will reopen Thursday, September 26, at 8AM and remain open until 4PM.
September 24, 2024, 10am Update:
All Citrus County Schools will close schools Thursday, September 26th and September 27th as Citrus County braces for storm.
The National Hurricane Center continues to warn residents in west-central Florida that the forecast track is uncertain; however, the storm is expected to become a Tropical Storm later this afternoon. We need to prepare now to make sure our school families are safe.
After today’s policy meeting at the Emergency Operations Center, the Sheriff’s Office has decided to open shelters starting Wednesday, September 25th at 2pm. Because some of our schools are used as hurricane shelters, this means that all schools will be closed after our scheduled half-day on Wednesday, September 25th.
All schools will be closed on Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th. After-school programs and extra-curricular activities are cancelled beginning Wednesday through Friday, September 27th. Many factors are considered when the Emergency Operations Center activates shelters, and our school district plays a vital role in the EOC's response.
However, the YMCA before and after school programs will continue on Wednesday until 6pm.
We encourage you to stay up to date with local news reports; we will continue to update you through Skyward emails, texts, and phone calls, as necessary. You can also monitor the impact on schools at www.CitrusSchools.org and our district and school social media pages.
September 23, 2024, Noon update:
Citrus County Schools is monitoring weather conditions in the Gulf, which could impact our state later this week.
Our staff is monitoring current weather conditions and will continue to work with our partners at the Citrus County Emergency Operations Center to be prepared in case of any impacts to our area.
Even if Citrus County is not directly affected, there is always a possibility that our schools will need to serve as shelters for evacuees from other areas.
Please keep up with information from your school regarding athletic events or after-school activities that could be affected due to anticipated weather.
In the event we must close schools or alter our operations this week, we will send automated calls and emails to all Citrus Schools families. Please make sure your emergency contact information is up to date so you can receive district communications.
Continue to follow our website and social media accounts for updates.