School bells are ringing again for students in one Roanoke-Chowan area county.

Hertford County Public Schools will welcome students back to class Thursday, operating on a one-hour delay to ensure the buses can safety maneuver the roads that were impacted by Hurricane Irene.

This marks the first day back to class for Hertford County students. They opened the 2011-12 school year on Thursday of last week and attended classes Friday as well, but have sat idle for the past three days due in wake of damage left by the hurricane.

HCPS staff went back to work on Tuesday (an optional work day). They returned to a normal schedule on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, public school students in two other counties will have to wait to return to class.

All Northampton County Public Schools will be closed for students on Thursday. It is an optional workday for teachers and 10 month employees while 11 and 12 month employees are to report as usual.

Officials with Bertie County Public Schools announced that classes will resume for students on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (Monday is the Labor Day holiday). BCPS staffers returned to work on Wednesday.

Gates County students and staff returned to school on Tuesday.