When deciding to close schools or cancel busing on days of inclement weather, decisions are always made with student and staff safety in mind.
Below is a reminder of our process for communicating school closures when severe weather conditions make travel to and from schools unsafe.
The district recognizes school closures can be a hardship for many families and we always make every effort to keep schools open when possible. Our schools are located across a wide geographic area and weather conditions can vary drastically from one school to another. This means one area may not receive much snowfall however, several inches of snow in other parts will mean it is not safe for buses, staff, or students to travel to school and closures are necessary.
School district staff monitor road conditions starting at 2 a.m. and consider local safety advisories, such as direction from RCMP to the public to avoid travel. A recommendation on whether to close schools is made to the Superintendent/CEO by 5:30 a.m.
If the decision to close schools is made, please note the following:
- Communications to parents, caregivers, and school district employees will be sent before 6:00 a.m.
- Parents/caregivers will receive an email, text notification and phone call sent from the school district’s notification system.
- Employees will receive an email.
- Announcements may be made on local radio stations (WOLF 106.9 FM, WAVE 102.3 FM, and 91.7 COAST FM) on the day of the closure as well as CBC Radio, CKNW Radio and GlobalTV . Please do not call the stations – tune in and listen for the announcements, which will be made on a regular basis.
- The district website will also have an notification on the home page if schools are closed.
It is always our priority to have schools open whenever possible to maximize learning opportunities for students. Parents, as always, may choose to keep their child at home if they don’t feel it’s safe to travel to school.
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Frequently asked questions
How are school closures determined?
School district staff monitor road conditions starting at 2 am and consider local safety advisories, such as recommendations from the RCMP to avoid travel. The superintendent decides if it is necessary to close schools by 5:30 am Parents and caregivers will receive an email, text and phone call before 6 am if schools are closed.
How will I find out if schools are closed?
If schools will be closed, please note the following:
- Communications to parents, caregivers, and school district employees will be sent out before 6 am on the day of a closure.
- Parents/caregivers will receive an email, text notification and phone call sent from the school district’s notification system.
- Closure information will be updated on the district’s website landing page at www.sd68.bc.ca and to the district’s social media (Facebook and Instagram) pages.
- Announcements will be made on local radio stations (WOLF 106.9 FM, WAVE 102.3 FM, and 91.7 COAST FM) on the day of the closure. We also notify CBC Radio, CKNW Radio and GlobalTV. Please do not call the stations – tune in and listen for the announcements, which will be made on a regular basis.
Can I send my child to school if schools are closed?
No. When schools are closed there are no staff or administrators at the school site.
What if I DON’T get an email, text, phone call or hear anything on radio or television and there is nothing on the school district website?
Schools are open.
What if schools are open but the roads are bad in my area?
It is always the school district’s priority to have schools open to maximize learning opportunities for students. If schools are open and you feel it is unsafe for your child to travel to school, as a parent or caregiver, you may choose to keep them home.
Why can’t you notify us of school closures the night before?
As a district, we do our very best to prepare for bad weather, especially snow and ice. While we closely follow weather forecasts, sometimes the forecast can change. A forecasted 20 cm of snow may only deliver 5 cm of snow, and sometimes snow turns to rain overnight. Our goal is to have schools open for students and families, so we only close schools when we are sure that travel to school that day is unsafe.