Winter weather keeping kids at home for record number of days

By Lindsey Stuckless

The Haldimand Press

HALDIMAND—Snow, ice, and frigid temperatures have impacted Haldimand County public and separate schools, causing an unprecedented number of snow days in 2019.

To date, schools have been closed six days due to inclement weather.  Kimberly Newhouse, Manager of Communications and Community Relations for the Grand Erie School Board, said Mother Nature has provided some challenging conditions in February.

“In the past five years the average number of inclement weather days has been 1.5 for both boards, in 2018 we had two,” said Newhouse.

Newhouse said that because close to 50% of students in the region are bussed, the Board policy is to close the schools completely when conditions are considered dangerous for the safety of all students and staff.