Dear Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary School Families and Staff:
Earlier today, a power outage impacting Rutherford Elementary School’s sewer and water lines necessitated an emergency early dismissal of students. We referred to and followed the procedures detailed in the school’s emergency response plan.
Student safety is always paramount, and with students arriving home much earlier than expected, we require that a responsible adult meet them at the bus stop. We recognize the disruption this causes in everyone’s schedule—students, staff, parents, and caregivers alike—and we appreciate your patience and understanding. Except for one student, all were successfully reunited with their families by the early afternoon.
I appreciate the support, patience and grace you all provided for our students, staff and families. I’m particularly grateful to our Rutherford administration, faculty and staff who worked hard to care for and guide our students during the dismissal, as well as transportation and other district staff who contributed to today’s dismissal.
We create and review detailed emergency response plans to ensure that our students remain safe and accounted for in situations like these. When these occasions arrive, they compel us to put our plans into practice and reflect on their effectiveness. As with any emergency response, we will debrief and review our actions and make any appropriate adjustments to improve in future situations. If you have suggestions on how to improve this process, please feel free to share them with your school’s administration or direct supervisor.
Thank you again for your understanding.
With Monti Pride,
Matthew T. Evans, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools