Here in Alabama, we are all used to severe weather. If the meteorologists on any of the local weather channels are calling for snow, hail, tornadoes, or most recently, hurricanes; we all sit up and listen a little closer.

This is mostly due to the April 27, 2011 tornadoes that tore through much of our state and some of our neighboring states. The tornadoes left a path of destruction that destroyed many homes. (Read Whnt News 19’s article for more information)

Everyone who lived in Alabama at that time remembers that day and each person has their own story. But, one thing many people from the area remember is that Madison City and County Schools were not canceled that day. Students from kindergarten through seniors went to school that day, but later parents were called and told to pick up their kids and take them home so they would be safe.

Before the tornadoes, Madison City seemed to take longer with their decisions on school and severe weather. Many times, Madison City was the last to call off school, and more often than not they didn’t announce the school closing until the morning of.

When asked if Madison City still takes a while to make their decision, Mrs. Windsor, a teacher at Bob Jones said, “I think they make the decision sooner now than they used too and they take more precautions. Sometimes they are almost too cautious with announcing the decision the night before.”

The main reason for this change could be the change in superintendents between the 2011 tornadoes and now. During the tornadoes our superintendent was Dr. Dee Fowler, who resigned in November of last year. Now we have Mr. Robby Parker as our superintendent making the decisions.

“I think they are equal,” said a parent of a student at Bob Jones when asked if Mr. Parker was more cautious with his decision than Dr.Fowler. “They are responsible for a lot of students and they don’t want to make the wrong decision.”

This is very true especially since as superintendent, Mr.Parker is over almost 10,000 students. It is a weighty decision and one that requires much thinking.

“Teenage drivers on the roads would not be a good idea and Bus safety with high winds concerns me,” said Mr. Parker in his email to everyone Monday night about school closing Tuesday. From this, people can see that Mr.Parker analyzes the situation thoroughly and looks over all the data.  

Besides students, the superintendent must also think about how cancelling school will affect teachers with their class and their lesson plans.  

“It’s difficult because you have a time lapse and you have to reteach some of the topics,” said Mrs. Windsor when asked how canceling school affects learning. Teachers have to move lessons back a day or two which could affect how much they get done in a semester.

In a recent survey of students at Bob Jones, most of those surveyed agreed that Madison City has become more cautious with their decision in closing schools.

“I think more precautions could’ve been taken that day [April 27,2011] and they weren’t, ever since then it seems as if they take more consideration into it,” said Chloe Henderson, one of the students surveyed.

Over all, since the tornadoes, Madison City has been more cautious with their decision on cancelling or delaying school due to severe weather.