The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) business operations committee discussion about protocol during frigid temperatures came to a stand still on Nov. 10.
The issue was deferred to the Nov. 24 board meeting.
A major point of confusion last week was whether the current protocol governing school closures was a “policy” or a “procedure.”
Director of education Martha Rogers brought the issue to the board’s attention after she closed schools last year due to temperatures that were below the accepted level, despite it being a sunny day with no travel hazards, explained board chair Mark Bailey.
The board received complaints from parents regarding the school closures.
Trustee Barb White explained current UGDSB protocol states schools will be closed “when the Environment Canada wind chill index is minus-35 degrees Celsius at 7am.”
White, along with trustee Martha MacNeil, put forward a motion to change the protocol to state that closures would be “considered” when that threshold was reached.
This would put the decision to close schools in the hands of Rogers instead of forcing a closure based on temperature with no consideration to environmental condition, White explained. Bailey suggested developing a criteria checklist to help the director make the decision.
However, trustees Susan Mozier and Linda Busuttil said they didn’t like the ambiguity of “considered” and preferred more definitive wording.
“I believe in the absolute that we’ve had for a long time,” Busuttil said. “So I think for me I feel better in giving an absolute to the director.”
Mozier agreed, saying, “I think what you’re proposing is more open ended than what it is now … I’d like to see something concrete and when you started introducing words like ‘possibly’ or ‘maybe’ … I know yours doesn’t say that, but I don’t think that makes it clearer as to what has to happen.”
Trustee Bruce Schieck said the board is unique because it’s divided into different weather areas that need to be considered when examining inclement weather.
“I think that changing the wording a little bit like that really doesn’t affect us a whole lot, but the ultimate closing comes down to consultation with our director, the Upper Grand District School Board and the director from (Wellington Catholic District School) Board in consultation with the transportation consortium,” Schieck said. “I believe they have made very conscious decisions and that has served us well over the length of time that I’ve been on the board.”
Bailey suggested UGDSB adopt a policy similar to Waterloo Region District School Board’s for frigid temperatures.
“I must admit it’s a policy that I would be willing to support,” he said.
The Waterloo board’s policy, like the UGDSB protocol, uses a minus-35C threshold.
However, it states “in this situation buses will not operate, schools may be open dependent on weather conditions. In the interest of student safety, staff is to communicate to parents that frigid temperatures present a risk of frost bite within minutes of skin being exposed and they should ensure their children are properly dressed for frigid temperature and that they take into consideration that there may not be crossing guard service as a result of the frigid temperatures,” Bailey read.
Distinct weather areas in the UGDSB were still a concern for Schieck and Moziar.
Rogers said she didn’t think there is currently an UGDSB policy on cold weather, noting the current protocol is identified as a “procedure.”
Schieck suggested that instead of creating a new cold weather policy, perhaps the current procedure could be tweaked to address staff and parent concerns.
“I think that we should continue to work under a procedure rather than a policy for at least one year and see how it goes,” he said.
“If it (doesn’t) go, at least it’s not in policy.”
In the end, Moziar suggested deferring the decision to the next board meeting. The motion was carried and the matter will be discussed again on Nov. 24.
