Some caught off guard by Wednesday school closure notifications
Many parents woke up Wednesday morning to the news that their child’s school bus was cancelled due to inclement weather.
And depending on the school board, some parents received notification that ‘snow day’ might now mean ‘learn from home day.’
Ryan Readings, the administrative officer at Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services, says based on real-time information, some bus routes had to be cancelled due to icy road conditions.
The cancellations impacted several school boards in the region, including the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), which sent out a letter to parents notifying them of a new ‘inclement weather update’ that has been issued for this year and will require students to pivot to online learning whenever buses are cancelled.
"From the start of the pandemic we have followed a "do no harm" policy, we are going to make sure no student is disadvantaged, they will not be marked absent. The learning will continue they will be provided work on their digital platforms, and we want to keep everybody as safe as possible," said Mark Fisher, director of education for TVDSB.
Fisher says they've already received feedback regarding the new change.
“We've heard from many parents that appreciate our enhanced safety procedure, but we know for some in the community it is an inconvenience, and we apologize and regret that inconvenience, but we do want to keep everybody safe and encourage those students to be vigilant in their learning remotely,” said Fisher.
Meantime, the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) says staff remain committed to keeping schools open and are not considering remote learning on snow days at this time.
“The short turnaround time I think is the biggest challenge for families. In the event that we know we could continue to keep a school open, that is what we are committed to first, where remote learning would be a second option,” said Vince Romeo, director of education for LDCSB.
Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services (SOSTS) has spotters that go out in the morning combing through the city to ensure travel is safe, and if it's not, they notify the school boards of any bus cancellations
“Whether it’s weather, or it’s because of driver shortage, or they’re isolating, they have to let us know by 6:30 every morning, and that's when we communicate the information to the principle, to the boards, and to the parents,” said Ryan Readings, CWO of SOSTS.
Weather aside, Readings says they continue to deal with a driver shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and can't just simply swap drivers from one region to another to accommodate sick calls, or weather related cancellations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.