Editor the News;
Re: “Snow days for everyone,” Community Comment by Nancy French, Sunny South News, May 4.
Let me begin by thanking the writer for her interest in the education system.
An excellent education system benefits us all. The vibrancy of our schools and our communities are deeply intertwined.
I would like to clarify Palliser Regional Schools’ policy and procedures regarding snow days or other emergencies that affect the operation of our schools.
The collective agreement between Palliser and the Alberta Teachers’ Association expressly states that a teacher is entitled to an absence with pay “for those days on which a teacher is unable to reach the school from the teacher’s usual place of residence because of impassable roads when the absence is approved by the principal” (Section 9.1.4). When an employee calls in to say they can’t get to work because of driving conditions, I am unaware of an instance in which a supervisor refused to approve the absence when winter weather reared its ugly head.
In recent days when we cancelled bus service because of road conditions, we made sure our schools had someone at them just in case some students made it to school in spite of the conditions. Our limited staff on-site ensured any students who made it to school were able to make it home safely.
While I, like Ms. French, would hate to see a teacher come to harm trying to get to school in a storm, it is just as worrisome to think what could happen to a child dropped off for school only to find the building locked and empty. What if that child had no way to reach his/her parents and was left out in the elements?
If classes are cancelled for a reason unrelated to the weather, for example, a sewage backup, Palliser makes every effort to accommodate our teaching staff at Central Office in Lethbridge or in the next closest school so our employees can continue to be productive even if students are sent home.
With 200 working days a year, our teachers’ time is precious. Our teachers can still make valuable use of that day in planning, preparation or professional development. These efforts are much to the benefit of our students.
As Ms. French aptly pointed out, Palliser’s administrative procedures make it clear that the health and safety of our students and our employees is paramount. The best interest of the students is not our “rationalization.” In fact, it’s our reason for being. Our practices in recent weeks have demonstrated that to be so.
Don Zech, Chairman
Board of Trustees, Palliser Regional Schools