Norman School District Examines Communications Following Tornado

The Norman school district re-evaluating its emergency communication policy after a tornado struck just as students were leaving school for the day.

No one was hurt in the April 13 tornado, but Superintendent Joe Siano says the event gave the district an opportunity to examine its policies.

4/13/2012 Related Story: Damage Reports Popping Up All Over Norman Area

Siano tells The Norman Transcript that the district bought new radios equipped with GPS for its school buses. The tornado touched down shortly after middle-school students were dismissed for the day, and Siano says many bus drivers were caught off guard.

Siano says the GPS-equipped radios will help the district pinpoint where all its buses are at any given time -- and to identify those that are directly affected by a storm.

The radios should be in place by August.