FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

?

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Dr. Eric J. Smith

Commissioner of Education

T. WILLARD FAIR,

Chairman

Members

DONNA G. CALLAWAY

DR. AKSHAY DESAI

ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ

PHOEBE RAULERSON

KATHLEEN SHANAHAN

LINDA K. TAYLOR

January 10, 2008

M E M O R A N D U M

TO:

District Superintendents

FROM:

Dr. Eric J. Smith

SUBJECT:

2008 Hazardous Weather Awareness Week,

February 2-9, 2008

I would like to personally invite each of your districts and schools to participate in the 2008 Hazardous

Weather Awareness Week activities. These activities include a statewide essay contest for high school

students conducted by the Department of Education’s Just Read, Florida! office, in partnership with the

Division of Emergency Management. There will be an overall statewide winner and six regional winners

for the statewide essay contest, and all entries are due by

Friday, January 18, 2008

.

The American Red Cross is conducting a poster contest for fourth and fifth graders in partnership with the

Division of Emergency Management. There will also be a distribution of the “Florida Hazardous

Weather Guide” to middle school classrooms.

The Division of Emergency Management is organizing a statewide tornado drill scheduled for

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

, for schools across the state to practice a tornado drill. I strongly

encourage each of your schools to participate.

If you have any questions or need additional information regarding the statewide essay contest, poster

contest, statewide tornado drill or other statewide activities, please contact Jill Jackson in the Just Read,

Florida! office at (850) 245-0503 or visit www.justreadflorida.com/hwaw/. Thank you.

EJS/arr

325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org