Anglophone North Inclement Weather Policy 2021-2022

November 29,2021

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The winter season is now upon us and with it,we know we will be facing inclement weather events over the next several months.

Lost instructional time is a major concern for our education system.It is important to stress that keeping schools open is a high priority for our district/province; however, keeping students and staff safe will remain as our highest priority.

To find balance with student safety and keeping schools open, the following options may be employed in the upcoming months:

1)Early Dismissal-This may occur when an unexpected weather event occurs. Buses will be called back to the school and parents notified.

2)Individual School Closures/Regional School Closures-This may occur when one or more schools are affected by a severe weather event in their local area.

It is important to point out that communication to parents will remain the same for any/all school closures or delays, i.e. radio announcements, storm line notification, website post,email to staff,etc.

Important Note:   Parents have the right to keep their child home should they deem road conditions unsafe. A written note to the school, on the next day school is open,will be required and students will not be penalized.

3)     Delayed Bus Runs - This may occur after a storm has passed and some additional time may be needed to clear roadways, parking lots, etc. When this occurs,schools will open at their normal hours of operation and staff will be present. Parents will have the option of dropping students off at their respective schools;however,bus runs may be delayed by one or two hours.

Changes To Snow Days Due To Covid-19 and/ or Lost Learning Time?

There has been a lot of discussion as to whether there will be changes to "Snow DayPolicies"during this very unique school year. In sum, nothing has changed in terms of expectations for our schools and teachers.

 However, it is important to point out that teachers have been asked to develop a "Storm Day Plan". This plan could look very different from school to school or classroom to classroom. The emphasis may be on academic goals or the physical/social/emotional development of students.Individual schools have the discretion to make these final determinations.

I believe most would agree there are no easy answers regarding the never-ending debate about Storm Days in New Brunswick. As a district, we will continue to do our best to put safety first, while at the same time doing our best to support the educational/emotional needs of all students.

For your information,our winter weather lines can be reached at the following:

•      1-888-950-1919(Campbellton-Dalhousie-Jacquet River-Bathurst)

•      1-506-778-7669(Miramichi and Area)

•      1-506-523-0900(Rexton)

Thank you for your understanding.

Mark Donovan

Superintendent

AnglophoneSchoolDistrict-North