A temporary inclement weather procedure put in place by Trillium Lakelands District School Board since fall 2020 that saw schools closed to in-person attendance when school transportation was cancelled, has been lifted.

“This procedure supported student and staff safety at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while allowing for the continuation of learning for students through online, asynchronous, teacher-supported instruction,” reads a Feb. 24 press release from the school board.

“With the provincial government planning to ease COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks, TLDSB will return to our regular inclement weather procedure effective immediately.”

The announcement came the day after students had experienced four snow days in a row, combined with a three-day holiday. Feb. 17, 18, 22 and 23, around Family Day weekend, saw buses cancelled due to snow flurries or freezing rain. To date, there have been eight inclement weather days in Haliburton County in the 2021 to 2022 school year. A record was set in 2018 and 2019 with 14 cancellations across the board. Snow days have been tracked since the 2010 to 2011 school year.

Usually, the decision to cancel buses due to inclement weather or poor or deteriorating road conditions is made around 6 p.m., in consultation with bus operators, taking into consideration existing road conditions, weather conditions as reported by Environment Canada and any other information available at the time a decision has to be made, said Sinead Fegan, TLDSB spokesperson.  

Students who remain at home on inclement weather days can access existing information on their online classroom, however there will no longer be new materials assigned or online meetings scheduled with teachers on inclement weather days.

Inclement weather day information can be found on TLDSB social media, the TLDSB website, on local radio stations or the district app, or at mybustoschool.ca. 

– Staff