SPRINGFIELD -- Following a KY3 News special report on April 24 about schools not always sending children to the safest spots during severe weather, administrators at more than 20 schools in five school districts in Greene County have taken steps to make their buildings safer.  Emergency Management directors have been doing walk-through inspections at schools, assessing the schools' current tornado drill plans and recommending changes.

  Principals in Springfield, Ash Grove, Walnut Grove and Strafford are learning that the old adage “If it ain't broke, don't fix it” doesn't apply to tornado drills and warnings.  Principals are taking no chances about the things they do to keep kids safe during tornado warnings.

  The KY3 News report showed that hallways with glass doors and windows at the end of them are not the best places to “duck and cover” during tornado warnings.  Instead interior rooms are better “hidey-holes.”

  Much like firefighters, emergency managers also hope to become a part of the building process every time a school is built.  They would recommend preventive measures such as installing shatterproof glass, building alcoves and bolting bookshelves and lockers to walls, all safety measures that are a lot cheaper at the beginning, rather than trying to retrofit later.
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 Here are the schools that have had Emergency Management inspections (to find the best places for students and employees to be during tornado warnings) since April 24:

 Ash Grove School District schools (all); Walnut Grove School District schools (all); Strafford School District Schools (all); Springfield schools: McBride, Rountree Sequiota, Portland, Mann, Disney, Special Education office, Twain, Sunshine, Hickory Hills, Pleasant View, Cowden, Sherwood, Bingham, Bowerman, Gray, Jeffries, Phelps Center for Gifted, Shady Dell Early Childhood Center, and Pittman; and Springfield Catholic School System: St. Agnes.

  The Greene County Office of Emergency Management has also done walk-through inspections at some businesses, nonprofit agencies and government offices for the same reason.