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Principal Jim Marott describes holding students after Acton microburst; district delays tests for affected students
Summary
Acton junior high principal Jim Marott told podcast hosts that when a microburst struck just before dismissal the school delayed release, held buses and sheltered returned students; the district later told teachers to postpone tests and quizzes the following Monday.
Acton junior high principal Jim Marott said the school delayed dismissal and held students inside when a sudden microburst struck the town just before the 2:36 p.m. bell, using the PA and two‑way radios to coordinate while central office assumed district‑level decision making.
Marott said he went on the PA to reassure students: “There’s a situation — you’re seeing the weather, you’re hearing the thunder. We’re not going to dismiss yet.” He credited staff for quickly shifting into emergency routines and said the PA system ran on battery backup and the school’s Wi‑Fi remained functional enough to support communications.
The district held students for about 25 minutes before calling buses at roughly 3:00 p.m., canceled after‑school activities and changed bus operations as crews assessed road conditions. Marott said some routes — including parts of…
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