Parents, teachers and city councilors were upset to learn Thursday that the Norwood and Holliman Elementary Schools have not had working fire alarms since February.
"It is outrageous that the School Department failed to notify the teachers and parents that the fire alarm system was not operational," wrote Ward 2 Councilor Jeremy Rix on his Facebook page. "There is no excuse for this incompetence." The fire alarms have not been working since about Feb. 24, and teachers were informed at Holliman, but not at Norwood, according to the post.
A firefighter will be in the buildings conducting a fire watch when teachers and students are in the building, "without any overtime pay," Rix wrote.
"Ensuring the safety of our students in our public schools is paramount," he wrote.