School board defeats motion to change snow day policy
Posted Oct 27, 2011 05:25:45 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s status quo for the Halifax Regional School Board’s snow day policy.
School board members voted on a motion last night that would keep schools open during bad weather – and only close them when weather conditions are extreme.
The vote ended in a 4-4 tie, meaning the motion is defeated.
Board member David Cameron tabled the motion, telling his colleagues that all schools shouldn’t be closed just because the buses aren’t running.
“Let’s take a more holistic approach to safety than simply closing all schools when there’s a whiff of snow in the forecast,” he said.
Cameron suggested that keeping kids at home when they could walk to class deprives them of valuable learning time – and causes problems for some parents who can’t take the day off to stay home with their kids.
“Where do these kids end up spending the day?” he said. “Often on the street, playing with kids from the neighbourhood. Is that safe?”
Board member Donna Hubbard disagreed, saying kids who are expected to walk to school in bad weather are still at risk.
“Road conditions underneath snow often have a sheet of ice or a layer of slush, which makes it very difficult to walk to school or drive to school,” she pointed out.
A representative of the unionized crossing guards tells News 95.7 that if buses aren’t running, it means the roads will be dangerous for everyone.
“We know how dangerous it is, we’re out there,” said Glenna Cassavechia. “We’re on the front lines, so to speak.”
But Board chair Irvine Carvery – who voted in favour of the motion – says he knows some parents have been annoyed with school day closures in the past and agreed the issue needed debating.
HRM schools were closed for four and a half days last year.
