Would You Make A Complaint?

[livie1205]

I will try to make this short....last Friday I took my kids to school, well as soon as I pulled into the parking lot we had to run inside the school(i was in pjs and i had my dd2 also) there was a TORNADO WARNING .there was a tornado 1/2 a mile from school...it got bad...well i know they practice for these things so i was not worried...well they did not do what they practice for...they had kids still walking in the halls they put some kids in the media center and cafateria but they were sitting up at the tables...they did not cover their heads (like they practice) in the classes that had kids still in them they had kids sitting at there desks watching tv...if the roof would have peeled off kids would have been hurt...the cafateria has THE MOST windows of any other room in the school...i was in the office and there were 3 kids in the office and they said ok now go to your class but stay under the covered walkway! i could not understand! these are small children and it was a warning not a watch...you could hear it outside..lots of homes were tore up and a few injured, I had no power for a while...It is useless to go to the principal because she was in the office chatting, she is the one that had some of the kids go to the lunch room, should i call her boss?

 

[dimimi]

I think you should tell someone. I'm sure it took them off guard due to the fact that kids were being dropped off. It was sure handled poorly!

 

[agentpleakley]

I have a huge problem with this.

We live in the new tornado alley (I'm in Jackson, TN). Our procedure is this: If the sirens are going off (warning) - the schools are in lock down -- and the kids are escorted to the basement. I can't imagine there being a warning (not a watch) and letting kids roam about. We take tornados serious -- and I am glad that our schools do as well.

I would definitely let the principal now your dissatisfaction at how the "warning" was handled. I may even go to the school board and raised my concerns there.

 

[cabanafrau]

Submit a suggestion that a plan be formulated to handle this situation. Gets the job done w/o complaint.

 

[wilderness01]

I think I would bring forth your concern as well as it could save a life in the future.

 

[olena]

I have a huge problem with this. We live in the new tornado alley (I'm in Jackson, TN). If the sirens are going off (warning) - the schools are in lock down -- and the kids are escorted to the basement. I can't imagine there being a warning (not a watch) and letting kids roam about. We take tornados serious -- and I am glad that our schools do as well.

I would definitely let the principal now your dissatisfaction at how the "warning" was handled. I may even go to the school board and raised my concerns there.

Covered walkway? They sent the kids OUTSIDE to go between buildings with a nearby tornado?

I think I'd start with the school board and contact the state board, too. Maybe proper procedure was followed and maybe it needs changing. Protocol is usually pretty clear on severe weather.

 

[declansdad]

Covered walkway? They sent the kids OUTSIDE to go between buildings with a nearby tornado?

I think I'd start with the school board and contact the state board, too. Maybe proper procedure was followed and maybe it needs changing. Protocol is usually pretty clear on severe weather.

I think I would start with the school and work my way from there.

 

[budbeerlady]

I would be addressing the issue, especially since this could happen again with your kids there. I would ask the school what its procedure is and then why it wasnt followed? (I wonder if it mattered that it was before school started vs the kids being in class? )

Wow, I know DD's school is very strict about it but I have to say I dont know what would happen at 8am before school starts and everyone is in their class rooms. All of our warnings have been in the afternoon.

 

[akhenaten]

you really must!!!

If you can get documentation of how close the tornado came and the weather situation at the time, include it with your observations of what happened and what you understand SHOULD have happened!!

Especially mention the sending of children OUTSIDE!!!!

 

[livie1205]

it would really do no good to talk with the principal...she was there and she did not follow the procedure either....i almost flipped out when i saw them send those kids back to class...at least keep them in the office until warnong is over!

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

YES,YES,YES

Let the principal know. Call the school board and the fire department and let them know!!!!! ASAP!!!!

 

[rainy~daze]

I'd take my concern to the principal first. If there is no satisfactory answer to what went wrong, then go to the school board. And so on and so on. Until it gets corrected for the future. I wouldn't call everyone out at once, then it will be a bunch of excuses and chaos and nothing will be solved.
Do it one step at a time. But definitely do it, they put peoples lives in danger. That has to be corrected.

 

[GraysMom]

I'd send a letter (possible with signature required upon delivery or delivery confirmation) to the superintendent of your district, as well as the presdient of the school board. I would mention that you are expecting a written response about how they will handle ALL future tornado/severe weather warnings/watches in the future. I would also attend the next school board mtg to see if the matter is discussed, and if not, bring it up yourself.

If the superintendent and school board don't do anything, I'd be calling the local newspaper and TV stations with the info. I'm sure they'd have a field day with it.

 

[declansdad]

I don't get why so many people always decide to jump over the first level of contact, in this case the principal????

 

[livie1205]

because she was standing right in front of me while these kids were being told to go outside....i dont think she is going to have a talk with herself about following the tornado warning rules...SHE along with other adults there put my children and other peoples children in danger...I put in a complaint with the school board member for that area...they were very upset that this happened.

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

When she was standing right in front of you chatting, did you tell her what was going on and ask what the heck she was doing? Or did you just watch her send kids out in harms way?

 

[declansdad]

because she was standing right in front of me while these kids were being told to go outside....i dont think she is going to have a talk with herself about following the tornado warning rules...SHE along with other adults there put my children and other peoples children in danger...I put in a complaint with the school board member for that area...they were very upset that this happened.

I believe you could still ask her to explain her actions. What if a neighbour didn't agree with something you did with your chilldre? Should they simply ignore you and call the authorities?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow, just wow... The resident teacher-educator gods are present here in full force, again...

The OP is concerned about children's safety, and she is being flamed...
ANYTHING to protect a principal/educator.

Yes, if I observe anyone violating policy, or the law, in any way that could endanger children, I would go directly over their head. What exactly is there to even be discussed??? The OP witnessed this first hand.

Yes, if I observed a neighbor who was endangering/abusing a child, the last thing I would do is personally talk to her, listen to 'excuses', and give the opportunity to cover her behind... I would call authorities directly.

 

[livie1205]

as a matter of fact yes i did ask her if she was aware of what was happening...i get the warnings on my phone in texts i held up my phone as said are you getting this they said yes it goes until 7:45 am and i could hear their weather radio reporting and they were talking about a tornado being sighted so YES they knew....thats why i didnt go to her first, i dont need to hear her excuse, it was wrong...

 

[Stitchfans]

IMO you did the right thing "going over her head" Sure hope for the children's future safety some changes are made.