Clarington students back in class after Wednesday closure due to road conditions

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Published January 20, 2022 at 11:15 am

After a series of we are open, oops, we are not announcements from the Kawartha Pine Ridge District Board of Education, schools in Clarington are finally open for in-person learning today, with bus routes fully operational.

Clarington students – those who could walk or be driven to school, anyway – were actually in class Tuesday while other students at other school board in Durham kept their schools closed to allow crews to finish clearing the roads and sidewalks of snow.

But after consulting with the Municipality of Clarington about their ongoing snow removal efforts, and with the forecast calling for more snow Tuesday evening into Wednesday, the board made the decision to close all schools Wednesday, with the students pivoting to remote learning.

Catholic students in Clarington also stayed home yesterday.

In a letter to parents, the Kawartha Pine Ridge school board said there were still ongoing concerns related to school crossings as well as roads and sidewalks around local schools, “which informed our decision to close schools for the day.”

The municipality took the responsibility for the missed school crossings, apologizing in a news release on behalf of its private contractors.

“We know that the contractor missed certain areas and will be going back to ensure they are done properly. We have received confirmation from our contractor that all school crossings will be done for the start of school,” the release stated. “Our crossing guards will be ready and on duty to assist children in making it to school safely.”

With “significant progress” made in those areas yesterday “creating safer conditions for everyone,” the board decided it all systems go to re-open the schools today.

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