Welcome to TE. Please check in on the Places to Ride, Mid-Atlantic section so that you might be able to join in on one of the "TE-DC" rides that happen every month or so.

Raleigh seems to consider the SC30 a "comfort bike". Basically, it looks like a hybrid.

IMHO, I would recommend that you go to the class with what you've got. You can always buy stuff later depending on what kind of riding you end up wanting to do and your level of commitment.