It’s hard to imagine the stress a superintendent of education, a school principal, a teacher must feel on the most calm of days.

While there are kids in their care, they are responsible for not only the education of those children, but their safety and well being as well.

On a calm day — an easy day — it is no doubt nerve wracking; but add to that stress a day when severe weather is forecast.

It is for this reason we never question decisions by school leaders on when to dismiss students early or when to keep them in school. It is a decision they have reached with the best possible information and advice from the best possible people.

Thursday’s story about the safety features being included in the construction of the new Selma High School do little to dismiss all the fears school officials carry with them on a normal school day, but it should offer some comfort when the clouds turn a little grey.

These guidelines, these requirements handed down by the state of Alabama are in place because of lessons learned through past tragedies, most notably the horrible deaths of students in Enterprise when a tornado ripped through their high school.

It is our prayer — our heartfelt hope — the safety features built into the new high school are never tested, but knowing they are there allows us to breath a little easier when the weather sirens sound off.

The new Selma High School no doubt will be a crown jewel for our city, an iconic building for visitors coming through town and a quality facility to advance education, but if needed, we know it will protect those we hold most dear; our children.