Nova Scotia looks to reduce storm days for students
Posted Jan 6, 2010 02:13:29 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After last year’s brutal winter weather forced several school closures a discussion paper on lost days has been released to calm concerned parents.
While this year, the Halifax Regional School Board hasn’t had a single cancellation due to weather, last year some regions had as many as 13 lost days.
Jim Gunn says he stands by any school boards’ decision to cancel class – for safety reasons – when a storm is rolling in.
But the former school board superintendent has a few recommendations for all boards … when such a decision is made.
“The first reccommendation is for school boards to use a variety of communications strategies,” says Gunn.
“But it is important to use all kinds of different ways of communicating with families to understand how the storm days decisions are made.”
Gunn also suggests sending home learning packages or opening schools later in the day if weather improves.
“I hope it becomes truly a discussion paper where boards and their staffs are out discussing it with families in the communities.”
While there are six recommendations, the provincially commissioned report is not to be adopted.
The department of education suggest school boards amend their policies where necessary.
