School buses in local school divisions have been idle for many mornings recently due to the cold weather.
The North East School Division is reminding parents and others about their severe weather policy.
Director of education Don Rempel told northeastNOW that schools always remain open during severe weather, for safety reasons.
However, in the division’s Closure, Severe Weather and Student Transportation policy, it states that “[t]he director of education, or designate is authorized to dismiss students, discontinue transportation services, and/or close school in emergency situations.”
Rempel said if it’s too cold, buses will not run.
“If it’s -40 with the wind chill, a call is made at 6:30 in the morning [to] not run buses if that’s the case, we use The Weather Network as a data source for each community,” said Rempel. “In the afternoons, it’s not so clear cut. If conditions are favourable around noon, and if the projections are that it’s safe to run buses, we will make decisions sometimes to run an afternoon route.”
Rempel said students aren’t standing waiting for buses in the afternoon like they are in the morning, so it’s a bit of a judgement call. He adds that communication is very important as the decision is made.
In a recent change in the NESD policy, in-town buses also do not run if it’s -40 C or colder with the wind chill.
Parents and students are encouraged to check the North East School Division’s website for the latest bus cancellation information.
Rempel encourages students to go to school, despite the cold conditions.
“It’s really good for the students to have that continuity in their learning,” said Rempel.
Morning wind chills are expected to be well below -40 C again as the school week closes on Friday.
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cam.lee@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @camlee1974
