Rutherford County Schools Director Don Odom has sent a message to parents, addressing concerns from parents about schools being opened during the Wednesday severe weather.

HERE THE MESSAGE:

Odom said weather forecasts were predicting the storms would reach Rutherford County by 9am and delaying schools would have put buses on the road during that time. He went on to say around 6am, forecasters changed their prediction and the storm was moving faster than expected. By that time, students and buses were already on the road and it was too late to delay schools.

As we reported on the air Wednesday morning, transportation halted buses at schools for a time and took students inside until the storm passed.

Odom says when these types of weather situations change rapidly, parents are encouraged to determine whether to send their child to a bus stop, to drive them to school or keep them inside.

He did apologize for the inconvenience or worry that it caused and told parents they're excusing any tardies or absences related to the weather. He also commended bus drivers, the school staff and parents for their diligence in keeping students safe.

Read the full text of the message to parents on WGNSRadio.com.

TEXT OF MESSAGE TO PARENTS:

This is Rutherford County Director of Schools Don Odom. I would like to address some of the concerns we heard from parents today about the weather this morning.

We began monitoring the weather forecast as early as 4 a.m. At that time the storm front was crossing the Mississippi River and forecasters were predicting any possible severe thunderstorms would reach Rutherford County at approximately 9 a.m., which is after all schools would be open and bus routes were completed. If we had made the decision to delay school at that time, it would have meant that buses would have been on the road precisely when they were predicting the storm would hit our county.

At approximately 6 a.m., forecasters changed the prediction and said the storm was moving faster than expected. However, buses and students were already on the road and it was too late to delay schools because some buses begin their routes at approximately 5:30 a.m.

This morning, our Transportation Office radio dispatch halted our buses at schools for a time and brought students inside until the storm front passed. When these types of weather situations change rapidly, parents are encouraged to determine whether to send their children to a bus stop, to drive them to school or keep them inside.

I do want to commend our bus drivers, our school staff and parents for their diligence this morning to keep students safe.

I also wanted to share with you our reasoning for not delaying schools this morning and apologize for inconvenience or worry that it caused you and your family. We are also excusing any tardies or absences related to the weather today.

I appreciate your commitment and support of Rutherford County Schools, and I hope you have a good evening.