SD62: Tuesday February 12 is snow day #2

Monday, February 11, 2019 ~ WEST SHORE & SOOKE.

~ West Shore Voice News

Tomorrow Tuesday February 12 will be “Snow Day #2” in the west shore and Sooke. All SD62 schools and school offices will be closed.

SD62 Superintendent Scott Stinson made that announcement this evening, for Tuesday February 12, with a outdoors snow day video on Twitter at @SD62_Sooke .

Families were out today and this evening enjoy the snow.

“It’s unusual to have two snow days in a row. But given the amount of snow falling tonight, we wanted to give parents and staff enough notice this evening, ahead of tomorrow,” says Stinson.

Staying off the roads will be a good idea tomorrow, after 15 to 25 cm of snow falls overnight into Tuesday.

The Sooke School District SD62 serves Langford, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin, Sooke and Juan de Fuca areas and some parts of View Royal. There are 24 regular schools in SD62 plus the Westshore Centre for Learning & Training campuses (one in each of Langford, Colwood and Sooke).

An estimated 5 to 10 cm of snowfall had accumulated by this morning, having started around 2 pm on Sunday afternoon and still with some light flurries this morning. Another 10 to 15 cm fell today in what Environment Canada called a “long period of snowfall”. And now 15 to 25 cm will fall tonight, overnight into Tuesday.

Declaring a snow day (i.e. schools closed or classes not in session) is not taken lightly. The school district realizes that parents often must get to work and also may not be able to find child care for any children that cannot get to school. Teachers and facilities staff as well as bus drivers must be advised in a timely manner.

Employers, businesses and other services are also affected by snow days, when employees cannot get to work or arrive late. A range of services to the public can be affected.

“A snow day is typically not called until morning,” says Stinson. It’s been a long day for the SD62 Superintendent. Early this morning he was out with the transportation director, facilities director and some bus drivers at 4:30 am to assess the road conditions, in time for a 6 am snow day announcement.

“Making that decision the night before is not a common thing for us to do,” he told West Shore Voice News. “But given what’s happened with this weather front it was a pretty obvious decision tonight.”

Even when schools are closed, principals are asked to check their schools when it’s safe for them to travel. Or they arrange for another principal who is nearby to do it for them. This is to ensure that no students or staff have inadvertently shown up at the school. Then they close up and lock up, explained Stinson.

Bus drivers and all staff will have the day off, except for  Superintendent Stinson, Secretary-Treasurer Harold Cull, and a few payroll staff who will head into the SD62 administrative office on Jacklin Road on Tuesday to keep things running.

As well, facilities staff will work some daytime hours on Tuesday (instead of having to start at 1 am) to clear school parking lots, walkways, and school access areas.

Losing two days of instruction time can impact the classroom upon return. In particular, secondary school students (now in Semester #2 of the 2018-2019 academic year) will see their teachers adjusting lessons accordingly, says Stinson. “Teachers will do a little extra work to make sure students are ready for exams.” Stinson said.

Some academic course material can be advanced by email and online with high school students when the regular classroom is not available.

The Sooke School District SD62 can be followed on Twitter @SD62_Sooke  hashtag #sd62