Stanly County Schools announced Wednesday afternoon that the start of the 2024-2025 school year would be delayed until Monday.

The announcement comes as North Carolina prepares for possible flooding associated with Tropical Storm Debby.

The Stanly County Board of Education unanimously approved a motion Tuesday night to delay the start of the school year if necessary.

Stanly County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis said Tuesday he had spoken with members of the county’s Emergency Management department, who told him Stanly was going to have “a significant rain event” with the approaching storm. Dennis said he was told the rains are “supposed to produce significant flooding across the county” by Thursday afternoon. The new school year was to have started Thursday.

Those students in staggered starts would start a number of days later than when they were originally scheduled to start. For example, students originally scheduled to start Friday, would start on Tuesday.

No SCS athletic events will happen Thursday or Friday either.