Decision to open schools draws criticism

‘No pressure’ to take kids to school in bad conditions, Victoria district says

The Greater Victoria School District took some heat on social media Tuesday for keeping schools open as snow wreaked havoc in the region.

“This is irresponsible,” Jennie Bartosik wrote on Facebook.

“Teachers now feel obligated to drive in unsafe conditions. Parents with employers that aren’t understanding are also going to feel obligated to get their kids to school.”

She was one of dozens of people to post comments criticizing the district for opening schools in the midst of traffic chaos and limited transit service due to snow and ice.

Schools in the Saanich, Sooke, Comox Valley and Cowichan districts were closed, while the Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Qualicum and Greater Victoria districts kept schools open.

“We’ve heard from parents and staff, some supportive and some not,” said superintendent Piet Langstraat. “These decisions are more of an art than a science.”

He conferred with other superintendents and facilities staff who were out before 5 a.m. checking the roads to decide about a school closure Tuesday. While many of the main arteries were cleared, conditions on side roads were unknown.

“We serve 20,000 students. That’s a lot of households who might face a parent not getting paid or scrambling to find childcare if the school closes,” Langstraat said.

He said the district wants to ensure the safety of students and staff, which is why they were urged to decide for themselves if it was safe to travel.

“There is no pressure to bring your kid because the school is open,” he said, adding staff would not be penalized if they were unable to come to work.

School districts could soon be faced with similar challenges again as a second snowstorm is predicted to hit the capital region this afternoon.

Bartosik said she’s concerned because she trusted the district to make the safest decision. When she drove her daughter to Doncaster Elementary School on Monday, the roads were already bad.

“The street her school is on was not cleared and very slippery. My vehicle skidded and fishtailed multiple times on my way home,” she said, noting a student posted a message on social media saying her mother got in an accident dropping her off. “I’m appalled that they chose to keep schools open today when even B.C. Transit [wasn’t] fully operational.”

Eddy Shala said he was afraid to go home after school after nearly getting hit by a car on Tuesday morning. “I was walking to the bus stop this morning and a car almost hit me,” said the Grade 10 student at Mount Douglas Secondary School.

Several people commented online that the roads in their neighbourhoods were not plowed and it was hard to drive and walk. Some questioned a district decision to cancel a meeting Tuesday evening due to the weather while keeping schools open.

Jennifer Ritchie said: “As an employee in this district I have to go in today, but I’m faced with the prospect of walking as the transit route isn’t negotiating the large hill.”