Dist. 200 sorry for storm dismissal

The tornado touchdown in Wheaton occurred on Aug. 23, but angry parents still brought thunder to the Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 school board meeting Wednesday.

Parents called for the termination of bus drivers and the reprimand of school administration at Monroe Middle School who decided to send students home just as the storm hit.

Superintendent Richard Drury said the blame lies with him.

At least 10 students requested counseling after suffering nightmares and fear of future bus rides home following a harrowing trip to their front doors on Aug. 23.

That was just part of the trauma.

Parents say some bus drivers told students to take cover under bus seats. Other students were locked out of homes when garage doors failed to open when the power went out. One student was even blown into a marsh while trying to ride his bicycle home from school.

District staff explained some students went home as normal because the district was only aware of an approaching thunderstorm, not a possible tornado. A communication breakdown occurred where emergency weather notices were sent to area hospitals and county buildings to lock down, but not all schools.

Communication on bus routes also failed with power outages and what seems to be panicked reactions from some drivers, District 200 staff said.

The district is investigating how to improve communication and emergency weather notification for future events.

"I made a terrible, terrible decision that put a tremendous amount of children within harm's way," Drury said. "I understand the fear and anger that was behind the comments that were made. (Parents) were telling me, 'How could you be so stupid to dismiss children at 2:50 p.m. into an F1 tornado?'"

"I think that's a good question," Drury continued. "I didn't think I could be that stupid. I feel terrible that's what took place."