Tuscaloosa County Schools Got It Right

We ran a story tonight about some people upset with the Tuscaloosa County School system because they did not dismiss early yesterday.

As you know, I am not in favor of dismissing schools early on a sevre weather day for this primary reason… a large percentage of children in rural areas live in mobile homes, and they are forced to leave school buildings, which generally offer excellent protection in the interior hallways and small rooms, and carried to a place that could turn out to be a death trap.

When schools do dismiss early, I strongly recommend that all schools offer the option for the kids to remain in the school buildings if they no safe place to go, or if they will be home alone.

And, don’t forget, most high school students will be in their car, which is the worst possible place to be.

Thursday in Caledonia, Mississippi, they also got it right. The kids were left in school, and not dismissed early. An EF3 tornado did hit the school, but not a single child was injured. If those kids would have been sent home, there could be been a number of injuries, and maybe even loss of life.

And, more note about Tuscaloosa County Schools… I trained their bus drivers on what to do during severe weather THIS WEEK on Tuesday at Hillcrest High School. They are genuinely concerned about severe weather safety, and put the kids first.

Long time readers know I have a real heart for kids, and I have worked in children’s ministry for over 15 years. We have to work on a solution that is absolutely the best for Alabama children, and for most rural school systems, keeping them in school buildings IS the best thing to do on a severe weather day.

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