Safety & Weather

Boswell Elementary FEMA Safe Room

The FEMA Safe Room at Boswell Elementary, 695 Millcreek Road, provides shelter during tornado warnings and dangerous high wind events.

The FEMA Safe Room is owned by Lebanon R-III Schools, and its first function is to provide protection for Boswell Elementary students and staff during tornado and extreme high wind events during school hours. 

The Boswell FEMA Safe Room is open to the Lebanon Community during non-school hours (6:00pm-7:00am) and on weekends. During the school day, access is primarily reserved for students, staff, and individuals within the designated TPZ zone (approximately a 0.5-mile radius around Boswell). Doors will open during tornado warnings or when deemed appropriate by the Office of Emergency Management.

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When the Safe Room Opens

The safe room will open when:

• A Tornado Warning is issued, or
• When deemed appropriate by the Office of Emergency Management.

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Safe Room Location

Boswell Elementary
695 Millcreek Road
Lebanon, Missouri

A trained Safe Room supervisor will open and monitor the facility during the weather warning.

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Community Resources

Tornado Protection Zone (TPZ) Map

Boswell Elementary Special Needs Form

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Important Safety Reminder

• Use caution when traveling during severe weather.
• If conditions are already dangerous, seek the nearest available shelter.
• Exercise caution in the case of inclement weather when traveling to the location. 
• No animals are permitted, with the exception of service animals with proper documentation.

Entrance
Enter the parking lot on the west end of the building and follow the road that leads behind the school.

Maplecrest Elementary Safe Room

The Community Safe Room at Maplecrest Elementary, 901 Maple Lane, is ready for use during tornado and dangerous high wind events. 

The Community Safe Room is owned by Lebanon R-III Schools, and its first function is to provide protection for Maplecrest Elementary students and staff during tornado and extreme high wind events during school hours. 

The safe room is available to community members who do not have access to safe shelter:

• Available for residents who do not have access to safe shelter
• Open 24/7 on weekends 
• Week days 6:00 p.m - 7:00 a.m.

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When the Safe Room Opens

The safe room will open when:

• A Tornado Warning is issued, or
• When deemed appropriate by the Office of Emergency Management.

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Safe Room Location

Maplecrest Elementary
901 Maple Lane
Lebanon, Missouri

Signs will direct visitors to the Safe Room entrance when the facility is open on the south side of campus. 

Important Safety Reminder

• Use caution when traveling during severe weather.
• If conditions are already dangerous, seek the nearest available shelter.
• Exercise caution in the case of inclement weather when traveling to the location. Please note that during school hours (7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.) the safe room is reserved for students and staff for their safety and capacity considerations, and is not accessible to the public.
• No animals are permitted, with the exception of service animals with proper documentation.

Entrance
Enter the parking lot on the south side of the building, near the newest construction area. Continue driving east toward the newly constructed gym, then enter the building through the south door.

Lebanon Middle School Safe Room

The Community Safe Room at Lebanon Middle School, 2700 Buzz Pride Drive, is ready for use during tornado and dangerous high wind events. 

The Community Safe Room is owned by Lebanon R-III Schools, and its first function is to provide protection for Lebanon Middle School students and staff during tornado and extreme high wind events during school hours. 

The safe room is available to community members who do not have access to safe shelter:

• Available for residents who do not have access to safe shelter
• Open 24/7 on weekends 
• Week days 6:00 p.m - 7:00 a.m.

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When the Safe Room Opens

The safe room will open when:

• A Tornado Warning is issued, or
• When deemed appropriate by the Office of Emergency Management.

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Safe Room Location

Lebanon Middle School
2700 Buzz Pride Drive
Lebanon, Missouri

Signs will direct visitors to the Safe Room entrance when the facility is open on the east side of the building (back side of Lebanon Middle School).

Important Safety Reminder

• Use caution when traveling during severe weather.
• If conditions are already dangerous, seek the nearest available shelter.
• Exercise caution in the case of inclement weather when traveling to the location. Please note that during school hours (7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.) the safe room is reserved for students and staff for their safety and capacity considerations, and is not accessible to the public.
• No animals are permitted, with the exception of service animals with proper documentation.

Entrance
Enter the parking lot on the east or west side of campus and drive to the back of the building. Enter through the door marked with Safe Room signage.

See the Lebanon Schools Storm Safety Rooms on a map.

 

Tornado Protection Zone 

 

In general, we believe it is in the best interest of students to have school when possible. Instructional time is valuable for all students. Schools are safe, warm places for students; when school is canceled, many children must stay at home without adult supervision. Ultimately, when inclement weather strikes, parents must make decisions that are best for their child’s circumstances. Of course, we respect those decisions.

There is no set temperature that must be reached in order to cancel school. Lebanon administrators consider many factors, including temperature, when deciding whether to have school. Student safety is always the top priority.

• Parents are encouraged to make sure their children, especially those who walk to school or ride the bus, are dressed appropriately with gloves, coats, hats and scarves.
• Bus drivers will allow extra time for students to board buses at designated stops. This will enable students to watch for the bus from indoors during extremely cold weather. 

Living in the Ozarks, we know winter weather may lead to school cancellations or early dismissals during the year. The decision to close or dismiss Lebanon R-3 Schools is based on many factors, but student safety is always the primary concern.

How Families Are Notified

• School Messenger: Our automated calling system is the primary method of notification. Calls, texts, and emails are placed within minutes of the decision to close school or dismiss early.

  • Parents are encouraged to update their child’s school whenever phone numbers or addresses change to ensure they receive these calls.

• Local Media: KJEL radio and Springfield-area television stations are notified immediately after School Messenger calls are launched. Please note that it may take some time before TV stations broadcast the updates.

• Update contact information at their child’s school when phone numbers or addresses are changed.
• Share with the child’s school the plan the child should follow if school is dismissed early. Include whether the child is to go home or to another residence.
• Notify schools of changes to transportation routines as soon as possible to allow adequate time to make safe and accurate transportation changes.

• Administrators track inclement weather on the internet and television weather reports.
• The Director of Transportation and staff members drive key roads to assess condition.
• The District maintains close contact with county and city road crews.
• Administrators may contact other school districts in the line of the storm to gauge the intensity of the storm and discuss plans to deal with the situation.
• The Director of Transportation makes a recommendation to the Superintendent. The decision process includes the following considerations: Student safety being the top priority, minimizing student exposure to hazardous road or weather conditions, and providing families with as much time as possible to make child care arrangements.