A Word About School Closings
I know many Alabama school systems are sending kids home now… long time readers know my feelings about this. Away from cities, a large percentage of Alabama students live in mobile homes, which can be deadly places to be during a tornado.
For any school administrators that are with us today, if you close, we strongly recommend that school buildings remain open as an option for students that have no safe place to go. For many Alabama kids, those school buildings are the safest possible place for them!
I will write more on this later… but just an urgent plea for those that have the authority to make these kind of decisions.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:33 am
I just discussed this with the group here at the office, we all decided this is a poor poor decision. Glad I dont have children in the hands of these administrators.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Tornado Watch just issued for most of us until 7:00.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am
That is wonderful advice, especially the part about if they close to remain open for those who have no safe place.
I really feel for kids that must go home to an empty and sometimes unsafe home.
Thankfully our school stays open in these instances since it is a city school and has no buses, parents must pick up kids.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Gardendale High School would be the exception on the safe place issue. They are in the midst of a HUGE construction deal and the majority of their facility is a sea of mobile homes for class rooms.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:39 am
This is a PDS Tornado Watch as well…not really a surprise.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I know there has been much debate in the past about school closing, but i still feel as i felt before, they are safer at school. I know teachers want to go and get their kids etc etc but alot of parents can not take off from their job and go home to be with their children, alot of people dont have family that can go and help them out, alot of people live in mobile homes with no shelter. These kids are safer with adults in a structural building.
on another note, why does it say 21 comments but only shows 2 or 3, its doing it on the other threads as well?
January 10th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Where is it issued as a PDS?
January 10th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Scott, check the SPC page…
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products
January 10th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Ok I got it now
January 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
My kids are grown, but I always preferred them to remain at school. We’re in Columbiana. Our schools are pretty good (brick) structures, and honestly around here a LOT of kids live in mobile homes (like I do), or end up at home alone because parents work out of town (Bham, Hoover etc) and even if the parent can get off, they often cannot get to the school before it closes. And frankly I’d much rather have them in the school building than in a mobile home or in any home ALONE! If the parent is able to get off work and wants their child at home, then they always have the option of checking their child out of school.
Like James, I agree that the school building should remain an option as a ‘shelter’, even if closed. (Eric, I do understand in the case of Gardendale being primarily mobile homes at this time. Hopefully they have a ‘plan’ for the students in this case.)
January 10th, 2008 at 11:52 am
best case scenario is that this thing merges into a squall line before reaching yall in central AL with just some strong winds, lightning and beneficial rains.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Exactly PaulaW, if a parent wants their child home in these situations and they are able to be home with the child then they can check their child out, otherwise they should remain at school.
I think the Enterprise tragedy has a lot of school systems scared.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I am a school admin as well and I am not letting my children out in it. For one thing most parents are at work. Another factor is I am not crazy enough to believe that high school kids with the ability to drive are going to go home once I let them out. They are safer here where they are being watched.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Help the dummy out. What is PDS Tornado Watch?
January 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Particulary dangerous situation Meaning dangerous Long track tornadoes may occur
January 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am
exactly chief vaughan. I feel some schools are more worried about liability that saftey. When its an act of god so there is no liability for the school.
leave the kids at school for goodness sake.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
PDS = Particularly Dangerous Situation.
Usually means (as in this case) a greater chance of large, destructive tornadoes.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
[...] usually means there is a pretty good chance of tornadoes, hail, or strong winds. Schools are sending kids home early. When I was a kid, we hardly ever got sent home early from school due to the potential for severe [...]
January 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
While I can see the issue of both sides…My school administrator friend says the school closing issue comes with the transportation of children…We discussed this issue once and he gave me the following scenario…Lets say [hopefully never] a storm hits an area and the kids are kept at school then all clear is given. when do children get to go home? Trying to get 100′s of students home would be a logistical nightmare after a storm hit [trees on the ground..parents trying to get to the school to get kids..school buses are not the type of vehicles you want trying to get around downed trees or power line poles etc] plus the emergency vehicles that would be out and need the road..This comes down to the parental responsibility of instructing their kids what to do in case of an severe weather or having a plan as we are constantly advised to do like having a trusted friend or relative’s house to go to in case of such instance…Im sorry but I have friends who are school administrators so it is not fair to take shots at them for these tough decisions. ..there are other issues they consider as well…After this talk I kinda see his point of view…
January 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
i think fayette county schools are getting out at 12:30
January 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Do you know anything about northeast alabama conditions for later. also do you know anything about northeast alabama school closings?
January 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I am a teacher in an old building with PORTABLES; we have so many children we don’t have enough indoor space to put them safley. Giong home is better and yes the teachers would like to pick up their own kids and some of us have long drives.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
It is only a matter of time before this school closing thing catches hundreds of kids on the road right when the storms are hitting.
Foolishness.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Well…foolishness unless, as Teresa said, there is no safe place to put them. In that case, yes, send them home…BUT DO IT ON TIME!!!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Agree – Leave the children in school. Proud of James for not being afraid to say so!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
My goodness…that storm NE of Jackson, MS looks SCARY!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I agree with James 200%.. But I will say this. if anyone remembers the oak Grove tornado.. noone would have survived in those schools of course that Tornado was a worse case scenerio.. Honestly tho when God decides its your time its just your time.. doesnt matter where you are.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I think that, in the even of severe weather, the call should be made early enough that all children could be transported safely home. This is where your Plan of Safety comes in & should have been discussed & memorized way before now, on what to do when faced with this situation. Teenagers should know what to do, as well. School is a safe place, to a certain extent, but what would they do if the “all clear” isn’t given until 6 or 7 pm? Keep them all at school until 6 pm at night? Clearly, this is a huge topic for discussion. I am a mother of a teenage student at Hayden High School & I would like for my child to be dismissed soon enough that she could safely get home, and yes, she knows to go STRAIGHT home in the event of this type of weather.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
your right, sending these kids home its only a matter of time before a bus is hit from a tornado, high winds, falling trees. If transportation is an issue let the parents pick them up. I would much rather pick my child up at 5pm than have them at home by themselves in this kind of weather.
and as for the teachers wanting to pick up their own children, why would you put them in harms way be driving in this stuff. Plus im sorry police officers, emts, nurses, doctors, all took their jobs because they wanted to help others, they dont get to run home in cases like this why should teachers send children to unsafe places.
January 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I’m feeling stupid…I can’t find the list of closings on the main site. Where should I be looking?
January 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Ha. 20 seconds later I notice the big orange button. :p
January 10th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
shelby county schools letting out at 1pm STUPID IDEA
January 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I am a teacher and I have been at several schools where I know I don’t want to be when a severe storm hits. Also, one of my friends taught at OG and her entire classroom was destroyed. I want to be at home with my kids–not stuck in a potential disaster area with my family scattered all over town. What idiots!!!!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Well in my opinion I think letting the schools out is OK. I know today they are letting them out in enough time that they won’t be caught in a storm. If there is a storm close to that school though I think the administration has enough sense not to let kids go home. Come on guys give the school systems a break. If they don’t let your kids out and something happens to them then you all will say “well why didn’t they let those kids out they knew it was gonna be bad weather” on the other hand now you all are all over them for letting them out so what do you want the systems to do! You go sit in their shoes for one day during something like this and see how it feels to make that decision.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Well put Snowfreak! Our building that I teach in is not SAFE!
January 10th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
hmmm we are idiots because we think our children would be safer at school. wow. and you teacher where TL?
January 10th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
The bad weather could possibly last until well into the evening. So do you people want the schools to hang on to your child all evening? I am going to side with the schools. They should let them out in time to get home or a safe place before the weather hits. That is better than having them out in it at 3 or holding them in hallways all evening. Each family should have an emergency situation plan and that plan should not be to have the school be responible for your child. And what are you going to do if the situation gets real bad and there are trees down and buses and vehicles can’t get through some places? Send them home before the weather starts makes more sense to me.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
The issue I have is that while students would be safer in the school buildings, there have been multiple cases (in the Tuscaloosa County School System specifically) where students were loaded onto the buses less than an hour before storms arrived– in which case poor judgement was exercised by the county board system in that they did not hold the students in the school until the storms had passed.
And in the case of students riding buses during severe weather, I know of many children who ride buses for upwards to 2 hours before arriving home. And while being held in the school until the “all clear” is given might keep students there for an extended amount of time (as someone said, if the situation warranted students to be held until 5 or 6pm), I would much rather MY child be held at the school for that long than be loaded onto a bus to brave the storm.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I agree that the schools should not be responsible for our children. All families should have a severe weather plan, even more so for those families (like mine) that live in mobile homes. I understand the concern for the parents that are at work (like myself) that believe their children are safer in the schools. In this case most are more likely safer at school than at home. I work in birmingham and my daughter attends daycare in Hayden. Our daycare closes when the school’s close. Due to this fact I have to have a plan to make sure my child is safe. I have arrangements for my child to be picked up and safely taken to her grandmothers house. For those families that live in mobile homes and have children that are getting out of school early, you need to make plans with a friend, neighbor etc. on what to do in situation’s like this. I mean come on people we live in Alabama where we never know what kind of weather we are going to have. Be prepared, if not for yourself at least for your children.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
some people dont have family that can help them out, some people can not make plans. You talk as if everyone is as lucky as you are to have help.
like i’ve said before, you let the shoes be on the other foot and your children be sent home ALONE during a storm and you see how it feels.
i dont mind debating this with anyone because there are facts for both sides, but calling people idiots because they dont agree with you, and this coming from a teacher, wow thats beyond me.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
wHERE CAN I FIND OUT IF TUSCALOOSA CITY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING? THE CENTRAL OFFICE NUMBER ALWAYS RINGS BUSY
January 10th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
http://cfc.abc3340.com/external.cfm?p=closing
tHIS IS THE WEB SITE TO VISIT TO OBTAIN SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION. NO TUSCALOOSA CITY OR COUNTY SCHOOLS WERE LISTED WHEN I CHECKED
January 10th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I don’t recall calling anyone an idiot. Maybe you need to re-read the post. As for not everyone family i understand that and i geuss in that situation you as a parent must make plans to make sure your children are safe. Even if that means leaving work to do so. Point is, this is nothing new for our state, unless you are new to AL you should be use to it.
January 10th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
KJ- if you didnt say idiot then maybe you need to read other post to see who i was talking to. hmmm.
and as for my children, mine are safe i’m fighting the battle for others.
and as far as living in alabama, well when we were in school, they didnt jump and let these children out everytime the wind blew and we survived, wonder how?
January 10th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
When I was in school, buses were caught in bad weather and bad things happened. This may not be over until late tonight. The schools were right in trying to get everyone home before it all started. If you live in Alabama, you must have an emergency plan. It is irresponsible parenting not to.
January 10th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I am altogether against schools letting out early because of severe weather. What happened at Enterprise has scared people. The thing is, even if you do everything you’re supposed to do and take all the precautions you can, if your time comes, it comes. I believe many more students would have died if Enterprise had let out early that day. Gridlock on the roads with traffic jams and people trying to get home. Traffic is so slow that a tornado could be headed right to where the traffic jams are, it’s too late then. Kind of like hurricane evacuations, if you going to leave, leave in time to get inland before the storm even starts to touch the coast. In most cases, schools are safer than old frame houses like James said today.
January 11th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Take a look at the following page. Click on the service assessment for the March 1, 2007 document and take it all in. Adobe pdf is required to view the document.
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/index.shtml