Several times in recent years schools have been hit by tornadoes.
Fortunately, where students were present, school officials familiar with tornado safety took prompt action to safeguard the students before the twisters hit.

Remember the National Weather Service issues a tornado WATCH, when the possibility of tornadoes exists; and a tornado WARNING when a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar.

Don't wait until a Warning is issued to begin planning how you will respond. 
School officials should have a plan for rapid dissemination of tornado Watches and Warnings to every school in the system - either by radio or telephone. 

Have a plan. 
Each school should be inspected and tornado shelter areas designated.  Schools with basements should use these as shelters.  Schools without basements should use ground floor interior hallways that are not parallel to the tornado's path, which is usually from the southwest.  Never use gymnasiums, auditoriums or other rooms with wide, free-span roofs.  Teachers and students should know their designated shelter area.

Schools should establish procedures governing use or non-use of school buses during tornado Watches and Warnings. 
Generally speaking, school buses should continue operating during tornado Watches, but not during tornado Warnings.  School buses are easily rolled by tornado winds.

School Buses caught in the open. 
If a school bus is caught in the open when a tornado is approaching, the children should be escorted to a nearby ditch or ravine and instructed to lie face down, hands over head.  They should be far enough away so the bus cannot topple on them.  School-bus drivers should be regularly drilled in tornado procedures.

A Special Alarm System should be designated to indicate a tornado has been sighted and is approaching. 
A backup alarm system should be planned for use if electrical power fails - perhaps a battery-powered bullhorn, an inexpensive hand-cranked siren, or even an old fashioned hand-swung bell.

Playground safety.
Teachers should be assigned to round up children on playgrounds or other outdoor areas during a tornado warning. Otherwise they might be overlooked.

Portable or Temporary Classrooms. 
Children in schoolrooms of weak construction -- such as portable or temporary classrooms - should be escorted to sturdier buildings or to predetermined ditches, culverts or ravines, and instructed to lie face down, hands over head.  Most tornado deaths are caused by head injuries.

Specific commands. 
When children are assembled in school basements or interior hallways during a tornado drill or Warning when the danger is imminent, they should be instructed to respond to a specific command to assume protective posture, facing interior walls. Such commands might be "Everybody Down. Crouch on elbows and knees.  Hands over back of head."  It is important that these commands be instantly understood and obeyed.