District To Test New Lightning Monitoring System on April 4

The Carroll ISD Board of Trustees recently approved the installation of a new lightning monitoring system throughout the district that will ensure the safety of our students and staff during potential severe weather.

The district will be working with Perry Weather Alert System to install units that will both monitor approaching lightning and alert students/staff on playgrounds and athletic fields of potential danger. Currently, these systems are being installed across the district and will be tested sometime between 8 a.m. and noon on Thursday, April 4.

These units have already been installed at Old Union Elementary, Rockenbaugh Elementary, Carroll Middle, Carroll Senior High, and Dragon Stadium. The district has also installed shared units for both Dawson Middle School and Eubanks Intermediate, and Carroll High School and Durham Intermediate.

Old Dragon Stadium and the location of the former Carroll Intermediate School (1101 N Carroll Ave), now being rented by Southlake Baptist Church, have also received units due to the frequent use of these athletic fields by clubs and city-sponsored sporting leagues.

Carroll Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Walnut Grove Elementary will receive their units once the current construction happening on campus concludes. Carroll Senior High School will also receive a second unit at the conclusion of construction.

On April 4, each unit across the district will be tested between 8 a.m. and noon. The test will include an audible notification and strobe lighting on the unit.

When a Perry Weather Alert System registers an approaching lightning situation that could be unsafe for our students, athletes or community, the system will trigger an alert.

10-Second Horn Blast/Strobe Light = A simultaneous 10-second long horn blast and strobe light indicates that lightning has been detected in the vicinity and the area needs to be evacuated immediately. In this situation, everyone within hearing distance of the alert should immediately seek safe shelter from approaching lightning.

Strobe Flashing = After the initial alert, the strobe light on the unit will continue flashing, this indicates that the area remains under a lightning alert and the field or playground should remain evacuated and people should relocate to a safe shelter.

Three, Short 5-Second Horn Blasts/Strobe Off = The final alert from these systems indicates an “All Clear” has been determined. This alert will be three (3) short five (5) second horn blasts and the strobe will shut off. At this point in time, the weather has cleared the area and the conditions are safe to continue normal activity.

District, Campus, and Athletic Administration will have access to a weather app that works directly with these systems. This will ensure that the district has a consistent monitoring system that will keep those using the facilities safe.

On March 4, CISD Trustees approved 13 OWS units, software, installation, equipment, and a three-year software license for a total of $211,214 to be bought off the TIPS purchasing cooperative. School officials say this safety purchase will be made out of the existing General Fund Balance.