As a person who cares deeply about the safety and well-being of our students and teachers, I am concerned about the hazardous conditions they are forced to endure due to inflexible school policies. Weather conditions such as severe rain, flooding, hazardous air quality, and winds exceeding 15 mph pose serious risks to everyone in the school community. Despite this, current school policies require their physical presence, potentially jeopardizing the safety of all involved.
According to the National Weather Service, winds of 15 mph and above can cause significant damage, including downed trees and power lines. Severe rain and flooding are also major contributors to accidents, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.
I strongly urge the implementation of flexible school policies when it comes to extreme weather conditions. If such conditions aren't evident in the morning, but develop over the course of the day, school should be canceled by third period or later to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff. It's time for our schools to prioritize the safety of its people over rigid attendance requirements. Please sign this petition if you too believe that our safety and well-being should never be compromised.
