Dear Parents/Guardians,
With winter weather starting to settle in, the following communication outlines the Near North District School Board’s response to inclement weather days when school transportation is cancelled due to student safety concerns.
The Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) manages and coordinates transportation for our district. On inclement weather days, when buses are cancelled due to unsafe travelling conditions, schools will remain open to students who can safely make their way to and from school without the use of school bus transportation. We remind parents/guardians that any students dropped off must be picked up at regular school dismissal time.
In some circumstances, NNDSB may decide to close a school. This decision could be due to the severity of the weather, loss of power or water, and in rare cases the school’s inability to maintain other COVID-19 protocols such as student cohorts and handwashing protocols. If schools are closed for the day, parents will be notified through their school, board, and local media communications. Our primary concern is always the safety of our students.
If buses to your school are either cancelled for the day and/or schools closed, instruction and related student activities will be provided for your child to complete at home. These activities may include online or offline activities that every child can access. We understand that because each school and community is unique, plans will vary across the Board in response to local contexts. However, we plan to ensure that the learning continues for students, despite the weather outdoors.
Please continue to monitor your local radio stations and find details on both corridor and individual bus route cancellations and delays that are posted on Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services website at http://www.npssts.ca/npssts/delays
NNDSB is sharing this information so you can make the best decision for your family in the event of an inclement weather day. Thank you for supporting our students’ learning and safety. We wish you a safe winter season ahead.