Better Safe Than Sorry

January and February have not been kind to the quad counties. The weather since Christmas has been nothing short of miserable and, as a consequence, school has been cancelled many times. Though we've only had two more storm days than we had this time last year, since the majority have been within the last few weeks (and with all the vacation and in-service days thrown in for good measure), it seems like our kids have spent as many days at home as they've spent at school. People don't have anyone to blame, and unfortunately the lament often falls on the shoulders of the Strait Regional School Board.

Over the past several weeks, I have received a number of e-mails from people questioning the policies surrounding school closures, and asking me to write an article about the "problems with inconsistency" concerning some of the school board's decisions. Between these e-mails, rumors of flooding the school board office switchboard with complaints, and listening to frustrated parents playing "shoot the messenger" on-air with Scottie-O, I thought it might be helpful if I explain the school cancellation procedures.

I talked to Deanna Gilles from public relations, head of operations Terry Doyle, and superintendent Jack Beaton of the Strait Regional School Board, all of whom were very knowledgeable, cooperative, and anxious to share any information that would be helpful to parents. I should also note, most of the information herein can be found under "Document Depot" on the school board web site for future reference.

The choice to cancel classes is never a rash or impulsive one; it is a comprehensive and consistent process carried out by numerous individuals within our region.

When weather is in question, the team is on the road by 5am, and the work of surveying the situation begins. Many different parties are consulted to assess conditions, including dispatchers and snow plow drivers with the Department of Transportation, Environment Canada, bus drivers, and other contacts throughout the 12 zones that together comprise the SRSB. Once information has been collected from all the appropriate contacts, a decision is made about school closures and an announcement is made by about 6:30am in most cases. Cancellations might apply to individual schools, a particular area, an entire county, or every school under the umbrella of the SRSB.

In the event of weather conditions deteriorating during the day, a similar process is undergone. Principals, bus drivers, zone contacts, and school board personnel closely monitor conditions and make a decision for early dismissal if the situation warrants.

"What? My road is completely clear!", is a common complaint. But, even with dozens of contacts and "eyes on the ground", the SRSB area encompasses over 11,000 square kilometers, and that's a large span to have to assess under the best of conditions. As we all know, your road might be a glib of ice, while that might not be the case for your neighbours two doors down. Classes are cancelled to protect those whose road ISN'T clear.

Similarly, parents seem to complain just as much when school is not cancelled; when the view from your front window isn't great, and you wait for a cancellation announcement that doesn't come.

Sending students to school in less-than-ideal weather is a matter of risk assessment. If the people in charge monitored the road conditions and found the risk to be too high, classes would be cancelled in the appropriate areas. No reasonable group of adults would put yours, mine, or their children at risk, much less the group who are legally liable for the safety of the students as soon as they board a bus.

As much as we might not like to hear it, there's a simple solution to this problem: you're the parent, and if you don't feel the weather is fit for your children to go to school, don't send them. Keep them home, and let your mind be at ease. It's your choice.

It all boils down to this: we live in Cape Breton, folks. Our weather is unpredictable and ever-changing, and there's nothing anyone can do about that. Even though the forecast says flurries, we might get freezing rain, and vice versa.

Having to make necessary arrangements in the wake of a school closure can be difficult, I get it, but there is no evil louse in a bunker at SRSB headquarters, itching to infuriate parents, deciding on school closures with a Magic 8 Ball.

During bad weather, we might not get the news we want, but that's no reason for perfectly reasonable people to morph into soap-box-perching dictators because of something that, while maybe not immediately apparent to everyone, is a rational and preventative precautionary measure for all involved. Better safe than sorry, don't you think?