School Closure Decision: Snow
The decision to close schools due to accumulating snowfall is ultimately the responsibility of the superintendent, who must balance the safety of students, staff and parents with the need to provide learning. The decision is not taken lightly and is the result of a carefully thought out process that is reviewed after each experience and refined if necessary.
Except in rare circumstances, no announcement will be made if schools are open.
The decision to close schools is made by 6:30 a.m. Details are:
- posted on the SD42 Website (www.sd42.ca).
- posted on the SD42 Facebook feed (SD42Facebook);
- posted on the SD42 Twitter feed (@sd42news);
- shared with News 1130, CKNW, and CBC 690 radio stations.
Please note: The district supports individual and family decisions regarding safety. Parents/guardians have primary responsibility for their children’s safe travel to school. If, for any reason, there are personal concerns about the ability to travel safely to school, other arrangements should be made.
Student Transportation
Student transportation may be affected by heavy snowfall. There are currently 9 bus routes, which may be cancelled altogether or switched to snow routes.
If buses switch to snow routes, an alert will be posted to the district website no later than 6:30 am.
District procedures around student transportation during inclement weather are outlined in a memo that was sent to all students who rely on school buses.
Please note that Bus route 1 , 4, 6, 20, 30, and 40 do not have a snow route as there is no change to the route in the event of snow.
School Closure Decision: Power Outage
Unlike a steadily accumulating snowfall, the occurrence and duration of power outages can be more difficult to predict. For this reason, the decision to close a school due to a power outage is made on a case-by-case basis, taking all factors into careful consideration.
POWER OUTAGES BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS
In cases where building conditions prevent instruction but otherwise pose no safety concerns, the school district will try to keep the school open for students, but will ask parents/guardians to make alternate arrangements for their children where possible and return them to school once power is restored.
In cases where building conditions prevent instruction and also raise safety concerns, the superintendent will request that the school be closed.
The decision to close schools is made in as timely manner as circumstances allow. Details and updates will be:
- posted on the SD42 Twitter feed (@sd42news);
- posted on the SD42 Facebook feed (SD42Facebook);
- shared with News 1130, CKNW, and CBC 690 radio stations;
- posted on the SD42 Website (www.sd42.ca).
POWER OUTAGES WHILE SCHOOL IS IN SESSION
In cases where building conditions prevent instruction but otherwise pose no safety concerns, the school district will keep the school open for students until the end of the school day.
In cases where building conditions prevent instruction and also raise safety concerns, the superintendent may authorize early dismissal, depending on the time of the day the outage occurs. The school will contact parents directly. Details will also be posted to:
For the most up to date information on power outages, visit the BC Hydro Outage website at https://www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-map.html
