DELAND, Fla. – As students returned to school in Volusia County Tuesday, some were taken to campus by a temporary shuttle because of ongoing flooding from Hurricane Milton.
The shuttle service was made available to students who walk to DeLand Middle School as standing water remains in paths north of the school.
District officials said the rides were available Tuesday and Wednesday starting at 8:45 a.m. at the Sanborn Center at 815 S. Alabama Ave.
A representative from Volusia County Schools was present on each bus trip to and from the school. Students who take the shuttle will be dropped off back at the Sanborn Center at the end of the school day.
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Chelsi Carpenter is a parent of a sixth grader at DeLand Middle and said she was relieved to see the district had a plan to get students to school around the floodwaters safely.
“I was actually worried. I drove by the school the other day and saw it was flooded and that I couldn’t even go back there,” Carpenter said.
Currently, DeLand Middle School is only accessible from the south because of flooding along Aquarius Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue.
Several communities around DeLand saw significant flooding from Hurricane Milton.
Waters have started to recede in parts of the city, but the St. Johns River remains at major flood stage and is expected to rise slightly by the end of the week.
Volusia County Schools aid the temporary shuttle situation is under continuous review and if floodwaters don’t recede by Thursday, the community will be notified of the continued need for the service.
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