One Palm Beach County school remains closed due to flooding

One Palm Beach County public school, Washington Elementary in Riviera Beach, will remain closed Friday, Nov. 5 due to extensive flooding in the area earlier this week.

That is down from 10 schools that were closed Wednesday in the aftermath of historic rainfall and extensive flooding in communities across the county. The original list included schools in the western reaches of West Palm Beach, and schools west of Boca Raton.

Riviera Beach, however, was hit particularly hard. City leaders there declared a state of emergency on Nov. 2 as its neighborhoods were hit by a deluge that would eventually drop more than 20 inches on the area in a three-day period. By Thursday, city leaders announced they would pull $2 million from their major disaster fund to help recover from the damage.

Washington Elementary sits at 1709 W. 30th Street and has a lake behind it which overflowed its traditional boundaries, prompting workers to deploy pumps in the area, city officials said Thursday.

The school district, meanwhile, extended its message to anyone in the county still experiencing localized flooding.

"Our top priority is reopening schools only when it is safe to do so. We recognize that several of our neighborhoods are still dealing with severe flooding and dangerous conditions," Sean Cooley, the district's chief of communications, said in a prepared statement Thursday evening. "To our families and staff who are not able to safely get to school, we understand. Please do not put yourself in harm's way, as safety is always our top priority. Any student absences caused by these weather impacts will be fully excused through tomorrow."

The school week has been anything but normal. On Monday, John I Leonard High in Greenacres was closed as crews worked the aftermath of a fatal LearJet crash less than half a mile from campus. On Tuesday, all of the county's public schools were closed for Election Day. By Wednesday, flooding had prompted further closures.

The district's statement concluded: "The School District extends our gratitude to every teacher, bus driver, school leader, custodian, and staff member who have made reopening our schools possible. We appreciate the flexibility, patience, and understanding as we've worked through these severe weather conditions and flooding."

Sonja Isger is the Palm Beach Post education and features editor.