As a single mom with two boys—one with special needs—moving from Florida to Georgia, I was initially nervous and anxious. My first impression of the school and classroom was positive; it was big, clean, and well-maintained compared to the schools my kids attended in Titusville and Spring Hill. I was impressed. The substitute and teachers were very friendly, and my autistic son with ADHD didn’t seem unhappy, unlike his experiences at previous schools. So far, in the first two weeks, I haven’t received any calls to pick him up early, which is a relief.However, something concerning happened yesterday during a storm. Around 1 PM, we had a tornado warning with strong winds and heavy rain. Despite this, the schools decided it was safe to keep the kids there. On my way to pick up my son, the road was blocked by a fire truck, and the school did not notify parents about this situation. This caused significant delays, leaving many parents, including myself, stuck in the school parking lot. Because of this, I was late picking up my first son at Kemp and my second son at another school 20 minutes away. The school’s lack of communication and preparedness for severe weather was incredibly frustrating and stressful.In Florida, schools send alerts to parents when a storm is approaching, allowing them to pick up their children early for safety reasons. Florida experiences more severe hurricanes and tornadoes, yet they prioritize children’s safety better than what I’ve experienced here. I’m truly shocked and disappointed by this system.Additionally, the school does not allow my autistic son to bring a toy or comfort item from home or wear a shirt without a collar, despite his sensory issues. His teacher mentioned he could change into a more comfortable shirt once inside, but overall, the rules feel unnecessarily strict.
