Superintendent praises Elyria Schools community

I have the utmost respect for the students, staff and community of Elyria Schools, and never have I been more proud than I was on March 8 when I saw firsthand their response in a crisis.

Dangerous winds on March 8 triggered power interruptions and outages, downed lines and poles, and snapped enormous trees at their trunks.

The worst of it hit as more than 6,000 children were dismissing from school.

We were alerted about 2:45 p.m. with the worst possible news: A student was hurt.

A tree had toppled at Ely Elementary School and middle school students who were outside waiting for younger siblings to dismiss were in its path.

One student was pinned under the weight of the trees branches.

Inside Ely Elementary School, staff members saw and heard the tree’s collapse. Immediately they sprang to action, following their emergency processes to the letter, and keeping the area clear and the children inside the building safe, while so importantly aiding the injured child until the paramedics arrived.

Northwood principals learned of the crisis at Ely and rushed to the scene to assist. All while their own building was being hammered by the wind, downing poles and lines across the property and vehicles parked there.

Across town at McKinley Elementary, the principal and staff received word for the second time that day that the LifeFlight helicopter would need to land in McKinley’s parking lot because the winds were too strong for landing on the roof of University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center.

There, staff cleared the parking lot, kept parents informed, and kept students inside the building and out of harm’s way.

Throughout the district, the schools, like neighboring homes and businesses, were experiencing power outages and wind damage.

Emergency responders, power technicians and tree removers were immediately on the scene to clear paths to safety.

We are indebted to these amazing, skilled individuals who are our heroes in a crisis.

I saw heroes in our staff and community that day, too, and I am so very proud to serve this district and community as superintendent.

As quoted famously about character and courage, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.”

Thank you to everyone — staff, students, parents, community, emergency responders, and media — for your amazing response, professionalism and courage. Thomas G. Jama, superintendent Elyria School District