School Districts Under Fire for Opening Schools During Tropical Storm

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—School districts in Rock Hill and Fort Mill have faced backlash for their recent decision to keep schools open on the first day of a tropical storm. Despite constant rainfall and gusts of wind that morning, these districts made the call to continue with their scheduled start to the school year. Parents and community members have expressed immense concern over the safety of students commuting during such weather conditions.

Community Response

Rosalind Wilson, grandmother of a kindergarten student, described the terrifying drive to school. “It was horrible,” Wilson remarked, “I’m looking out the door – wind blowing – the rain – I don’t want to take him out there.” In recalling the commute, Wilson noted how a passing car splashed water onto her windshield, momentarily blinding her and nearly causing an accident.

Commenting on the situation, parent Archinya Ingram voiced her dissatisfaction. “I understand the pressure of having to make the right decision in those moments,” said Ingram. “Where the weather is changing and you have to decide the well-being of the whole community, but this time – in my opinion, Rock Hill didn’t get it right.”

Stance of District Officials

Despite the backlash, district officials have justified their decision. According to them, students got home safe, which they believe validates their initial judgement. Both districts emphasized that they had consulted meteorologists and safety guidelines before deciding to keep the schools open, factoring in the severity of the forecasted weather and its potential impact on travel.

Rock Hill School District

According to Rock Hill’s Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, Lindsay Machak, a large percentage of students attended school on the first day. However, she acknowledged that it’s difficult to be precise about attendance during the early period of the school year. Machak stated, “We follow the state protocols for running buses when it comes to making calls on weather days and consult with meteorologists who have service in Rock Hill. We also work with York County Emergency Management as we make a decision.”

Fort Mill School District

Joseph Burke of the Fort Mill School District stated that before a wind advisory was issued after 6 a.m., the forecast did not predict conditions that would necessitate school closure. Once the advisory was issued, the district began active monitoring, checking wind speeds with the National Weather Service and looking out for flood warnings or road blockages.

Teachers’ Efforts Commended

In the midst of this controversy, parents have expressed gratitude towards teachers who still showed up for duty amidst these adverse weather conditions. The act of teachers braving the storm and staying dedicated to their roles did not go unnoticed. Wilson noted, “They were getting soaked, and they were saying ‘come on in’ trying to make us feel comfortable, but I feel bad for them. I give them high marks for doing what they did to make the kids feel good.”

The incident has sparked debates about the decision-making process during severe weather incidents and the criteria used to make determinations about school closures. School board members have also expressed disagreement with the decision and plan to discuss the issue during the next school board meeting. Meanwhile, parents and community members remain concerned about the precedence set by this situation and will continue to advocate for the safety of their children.