JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Classes resumed Monday for Jackson County students after missing 11 days of school because of Hurricane Michael.
"I'm not really happy but, I mean, it's good to be back in a normal routine from being at the house bored. Just glad to see everybody and normal faces," said Randall Smith, Marianna High School student.
Smith is one of hundreds of students returning to school Monday at Marianna High, nearly three weeks after Hurricane Michael.
"We just have to learn to adjust to this new normal I guess. It's just sad," said Ashtyn Jeter, Marianna High School student.
School administrators said of a student body of around 300, only 15 were absent, consistent with any school day.
Around 40 percent of the county is still without power and many are struggling with basic needs.
The Superintendent of Jackson County Schools, Larry Moore, said he's extremely pleased with the amount of students who showed up for class on Monday in all 15 schools. He said attendance records reflected a normal day.
He added even though roads along bus routes are cleared, drivers are not picking up students before sunrise until all power is restored, meaning some routes will arrive later to schools than others.
"There's so much debris beside the roads and the streets, and it's close to the roads and the streets, it's going to take a little extra time to run those routes," said Moore. "Just being careful about all those big logs and limbs."
Moore said all 15 school buildings in Jackson County have some sort of minor damage and administrators are keeping students out of those areas on campus until they've been repaired.
