With Cherokee under a severe thunderstorm warning and school release for the day approaching, the Ledger-News contacted the school district about what happens during release if severe weather is present.
"Per existing protocol for severe thunderstorm warnings, principals are to use their discretion for school dismissal," said Barbara Jacoby, spokesperson for the school district.
Jacoby provided documents related to the district's protocol for severe weather. If a severe thunderstorm warning is in place, school will release as normal, under the principal's discretion. If a tornado warning is issued, children will remain in the school until the warning is lifted.
"Notification, when it's not a district-wide issue, is handled by individual schools, which can call parents/guardians and use e-mail blasts," Jacoby said.
Below is the district's policy on severe weather:
PROCEDURES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS,
TORNADO WATCHES, TORNADO WARNINGS AND THE ACTIVATION OF
OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
I. DEFINING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, TORNADO WATCH, TORNADO
WARNING AND OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN ACTIVATION
A. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING:
An impending storm of heavy rain, lightning and thunder.
B. TORNADO WATCH:
Weather conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado.
C. TORNADO WARNING:
A tornado has been sighted or has been observed on radar.
D. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS ARE ACTIVATED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1. A tornado warning is issued for Cherokee County.
2. A tornado is sighted by a trained spotter or public safety official.
3. A severe thunderstorm warning is issued and winds have reached speeds of 70 mph.
Note: Along with the Office of Public Information, the Office of School Operations will notify schools and the Transportation Department of the beginning and ending of tornado watches and tornado warnings in the County. The Transportation Department will be responsible for notifying all drivers of the status of watches/warnings.
II. SCHOOL-BASED PROCEDURES FOR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, TORNADO WATCH,TORNADO WARNING AND ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
A. If there is a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND/OR A TORNADO WATCH in Cherokee County, the principal will:
1. Review/decide on the advisability of keeping students in mobile classrooms (while students/staff are not required to vacate mobile classrooms during a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado watch, principals may choose to move all students inside the main building, especially if weather conditions in the area worsen).
2. Disallow outside activities and/or outside PE.
3. Make emergency equipment (flashlights, etc.) available in case of need
4. Implement all appropriate emergency procedures (these procedures should be noted/covered in the school’s Crisis Management Plan).
B. If there is a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING
SIRENS in Cherokee County, the principal will:
1. Evacuate all mobile classrooms and move all students/staff inside the main building.
2. Distribute emergency equipment (flashlights, etc.) to appropriate staff.
3. Implement all appropriate emergency procedures (these procedures should be noted/covered in the school’s Crisis Management Plan).
4. Hold all students on campus if the tornado warning occurs and/or the outdoor warning sirens are activated during bus/car rider dismissal.
5. If a parent/legal guardian insists on checking-out their child while the school is under a severe thunderstorm warning, tornado watch, tornado warning and/or outdoor warning siren activation, the parent/legal guardian assumes all responsibilities for the safety of their child. The parent’s/legal guardian’s presence at school and their action of taking authority over their child relinquishes the legal responsibility and authority of the school administration.
III. SCHOOL BUS PROCEDURES FOR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, TORNADO WATCH, TORNADO WARNING AND ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
A. If there is a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND/OR A TORNADO WATCH in Cherokee County, buses will continue routes under extreme caution.
B. If there is a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS, the school will hold the children at the school until the tornado warning is lifted. Drivers will wait inside the school with the children.
C. If a bus is already en route when the driver becomes aware of a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS, the driver will go to the nearest educational facility and take the students inside. A sufficiently-built public building, like a fire or police station, hospital, etc. may be used as an alternative. The driver is to STAY WITH THE STUDENTS until the warning is lifted.
D. If weather conditions present a hazardous situation and the bus is unable to reach a safe location, drivers will implement the following procedures:
1. PULL THE BUS OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE LOCATION and stop the vehicle, but keep the engine running.
2. TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS in order that other motorists can see that you are stopped.
3. REMAIN ON THE BUS WITH THE STUDENTS. Have the students place their heads between their legs so that they are below window level.
4. WAIT until the storm/heavy rains blow over, and then proceed with caution.
5. NO STUDENTS ARE TO EXIT THE BUS to remove trees, limbs, cables, power lines or other debris. Be extremely cautious for the safety of all on board.
6. DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXIT THE BUS AT THEIR STOP IF YOU ARE AWARE OR SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE POWER LINES DOWN IN THE AREA.
Students will be returned to the school and the Transportation Office notified if this is the case.
7. If the bus cannot be moved due to blockage of roadway, radio or have a motorist call the Transportation Department for assistance.
E. During a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS, drivers must communicate their location and current conditions with the Transportation Department.
"Per existing protocol for severe thunderstorm warnings, principals are to use their discretion for school dismissal," said Barbara Jacoby, spokesperson for the school district.
Jacoby provided documents related to the district's protocol for severe weather. If a severe thunderstorm warning is in place, school will release as normal, under the principal's discretion. If a tornado warning is issued, children will remain in the school until the warning is lifted.
"Notification, when it's not a district-wide issue, is handled by individual schools, which can call parents/guardians and use e-mail blasts," Jacoby said.
Below is the district's policy on severe weather:
PROCEDURES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS,
TORNADO WATCHES, TORNADO WARNINGS AND THE ACTIVATION OF
OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
I. DEFINING A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, TORNADO WATCH, TORNADO
WARNING AND OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN ACTIVATION
A. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING:
An impending storm of heavy rain, lightning and thunder.
B. TORNADO WATCH:
Weather conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado.
C. TORNADO WARNING:
A tornado has been sighted or has been observed on radar.
D. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS ARE ACTIVATED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1. A tornado warning is issued for Cherokee County.
2. A tornado is sighted by a trained spotter or public safety official.
3. A severe thunderstorm warning is issued and winds have reached speeds of 70 mph.
Note: Along with the Office of Public Information, the Office of School Operations will notify schools and the Transportation Department of the beginning and ending of tornado watches and tornado warnings in the County. The Transportation Department will be responsible for notifying all drivers of the status of watches/warnings.
II. SCHOOL-BASED PROCEDURES FOR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, TORNADO WATCH,TORNADO WARNING AND ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
A. If there is a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND/OR A TORNADO WATCH in Cherokee County, the principal will:
1. Review/decide on the advisability of keeping students in mobile classrooms (while students/staff are not required to vacate mobile classrooms during a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado watch, principals may choose to move all students inside the main building, especially if weather conditions in the area worsen).
2. Disallow outside activities and/or outside PE.
3. Make emergency equipment (flashlights, etc.) available in case of need
4. Implement all appropriate emergency procedures (these procedures should be noted/covered in the school’s Crisis Management Plan).
B. If there is a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING
SIRENS in Cherokee County, the principal will:
1. Evacuate all mobile classrooms and move all students/staff inside the main building.
2. Distribute emergency equipment (flashlights, etc.) to appropriate staff.
3. Implement all appropriate emergency procedures (these procedures should be noted/covered in the school’s Crisis Management Plan).
4. Hold all students on campus if the tornado warning occurs and/or the outdoor warning sirens are activated during bus/car rider dismissal.
5. If a parent/legal guardian insists on checking-out their child while the school is under a severe thunderstorm warning, tornado watch, tornado warning and/or outdoor warning siren activation, the parent/legal guardian assumes all responsibilities for the safety of their child. The parent’s/legal guardian’s presence at school and their action of taking authority over their child relinquishes the legal responsibility and authority of the school administration.
III. SCHOOL BUS PROCEDURES FOR A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, TORNADO WATCH, TORNADO WARNING AND ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS
A. If there is a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND/OR A TORNADO WATCH in Cherokee County, buses will continue routes under extreme caution.
B. If there is a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS, the school will hold the children at the school until the tornado warning is lifted. Drivers will wait inside the school with the children.
C. If a bus is already en route when the driver becomes aware of a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS, the driver will go to the nearest educational facility and take the students inside. A sufficiently-built public building, like a fire or police station, hospital, etc. may be used as an alternative. The driver is to STAY WITH THE STUDENTS until the warning is lifted.
D. If weather conditions present a hazardous situation and the bus is unable to reach a safe location, drivers will implement the following procedures:
1. PULL THE BUS OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE LOCATION and stop the vehicle, but keep the engine running.
2. TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS in order that other motorists can see that you are stopped.
3. REMAIN ON THE BUS WITH THE STUDENTS. Have the students place their heads between their legs so that they are below window level.
4. WAIT until the storm/heavy rains blow over, and then proceed with caution.
5. NO STUDENTS ARE TO EXIT THE BUS to remove trees, limbs, cables, power lines or other debris. Be extremely cautious for the safety of all on board.
6. DO NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXIT THE BUS AT THEIR STOP IF YOU ARE AWARE OR SUSPECT THAT THERE ARE POWER LINES DOWN IN THE AREA.
Students will be returned to the school and the Transportation Office notified if this is the case.
7. If the bus cannot be moved due to blockage of roadway, radio or have a motorist call the Transportation Department for assistance.
E. During a TORNADO WARNING AND/OR AN ACTIVATION OF OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS, drivers must communicate their location and current conditions with the Transportation Department.