Discussions

Brandon School Division buses will not be operating outside the City of Brandon for Thursday, January 12th all day,  
 
Alexander, O’Kelly and Spring Valley Schools are closed.  
 
Buses will be running within the City of Brandon. Attendance at schools is at parental discretion where travel is required. Please call your school if you are not going to be attending.  
 
Please exercise due caution

Fort la Bosse schools are closed and buses not running.

Should be closed today too! That's bullshit because it's dangerous to drive!!

christine1 said "Should be closed today too! That's bullshit because it's dangerous to drive!! "

it says at parental discretion. Keep your kid at home.

christine1 said "Should be closed today too! That's bullshit because it's dangerous to drive!! "

"Attendance at schools is at parental discretion where travel is required."

christine1 said "Should be closed today too! That's bullshit because it's dangerous to drive!! "

Simple solution, don't take them in. Stay home go back to bed.. cheer up

I personally think that the BSD needs to reexamine their policies on which they close the schools in the city during dangerous weather. We live inside the city and my child takes a bus. So we sent her, cause the school is open and she's not an out of town student. But what we didn't factor, is fire alarms! The fire alarm went off at school this morning when it was so windy and dangerously cold. And all those students and staff had to go outside with NO winter coats, hats, etc. Till it was time they could go back in. This is not acceptable. These are factors that should be taken into consideration for their students and staff when they decide to keep these schools open.

All BSD schools should have an alternate indoor emergency location where they can take students in extreme situations. Ie. if there was really a fire at Cheezies child's school today, those kids would have been outside a lot longer than just a few minutes, which is completely unacceptable and very dangerous.  
Most of our schools here in the city have a church or a community centre or some kind of location close enough by that could be used as an indoor alternative. Our preschool has an emergency indoor location for extreme cases, it is close by, and they can get all of the kids there within minutes if needed.  
I definitely still send my kids to school here in the city even on days like today, but honestly if the schools do not have good policies and plans in place for extreme weather, then they should not be open.

Jellybean said "All BSD schools should have an alternate indoor emergency location where they can take students in extreme situations. Ie. if there was really a fire at Cheezies child's school today, those kids would have been outside a lot longer than just a few minutes, which is completely unacceptable and very dangerous.   Most of our schools here in the city have a church or a community centre or some kind of location close enough by that could be used as an indoor alternative. Our preschool has an emergency indoor location for extreme cases, it is close by, and they can get all of the kids there within minutes if needed.   I definitely still send my kids to school here in the city even on days like today, but honestly if the schools do not have good policies and plans in place for extreme weather, then they should not be open. "

I fully agree, that they have to have a better plan in place. The students huddled together behind cars to try and stay warm. That's not good enough. There is only one other building in the vacinity other than houses. I'm not sure if the school has access to that building during daytime or not. But 10 mins with no coats on today is not acceptable. And yes if there was a fire, it could've been even longer.

Cheezies said "    Jellybean said "All BSD schools should have an alternate indoor emergency location where they can take students in extreme situations. Ie. if there was really a fire at Cheezies child's school today, those kids would have been outside a lot longer than just a few minutes, which is completely unacceptable and very dangerous.   Most of our schools here in the city have a church or a community centre or some kind of location close enough by that could be used as an indoor alternative. Our preschool has an emergency indoor location for extreme cases, it is close by, and they can get all of the kids there within minutes if needed.   I definitely still send my kids to school here in the city even on days like today, but honestly if the schools do not have good policies and plans in place for extreme weather, then they should not be open. " I fully agree, that they have to have a better plan in place. The students huddled together behind cars to try and stay warm. That's not good enough. There is only one other building in the vacinity other than houses. I'm not sure if the school has access to that building during daytime or not. But 10 mins with no coats on today is not acceptable. And yes if there was a fire, it could've been even longer. "

Our school has enough locations near by that they could use. A church, a community centre, and public businesses. There should be agreements in place with these facilities in case of emergencies. Our preschool does not have access to the building that is close by whenever they want, it is only in case of emergencies.  
I know capacity may become an issue with some of these places, like a community centre or a church, but if there is a few places within minutes of the school, they can easily have an emergency plan in place for dividing up the student population between a few places.  
Honestly, the only school I can think of that does not have much near by is Riverhieghts. The closest they could get would be Riverhieghts Terrace, or Sobeys and Leons. I don't see why any of these places would not allow their buildings as emergency shelter if needed. I know it would disrupt business or living situations in this case, but with how highly unlikely it is to be actually used, and the fact that school staff could be on the phones within minutes having a good portion of the students picked up by parents within minutes as well, these types of options should be considered.

Crocus-there is only a curling rink nearby. Which is big enough to squish people in. But I'm not sure if they have access to it. Plus it's not a 'sheltered' school. It's wide open field, so it's even colder/windier. The parking lot is not a safe location during this weather.

Was it a planned fire alarm? Or is it possible it was accidental/unplanned?  
 
I find it hard to believe that they would purposely have a fire alarm today instead of deferring to a better day.

Cheezies said "Crocus-there is only a curling rink nearby. Which is big enough to squish people in. But I'm not sure if they have access to it. Plus it's not a 'sheltered' school. It's wide open field, so it's even colder/windier. The parking lot is not a safe location during this weather. "

The school would not have access to it unless there was a plan in place to have access to it. Which there should be, in my opinion. I know the student population of crocus would not fit in to the community centre, but there are enough students at a high school that own their own vehicles to be able to keep warm in, and the rest could be sent over to the community centre. There are also teacher vehicles that could be used, etc.  
A high school is a different situation, as there aren't so many "rules" with coming and going in and out of the school as there is in an elementary school situation, but there is still options for emergency planning. There are enough businesses towards first street and richmond as well that could be asked to be an emergency shelter.

Abbysmum said "Was it a planned fire alarm? Or is it possible it was accidental/unplanned?     I find it hard to believe that they would purposely have a fire alarm today instead of deferring to a better day. "

No it wasn't a planned alarm. They think it went off because of the cold. At least that's what my daughter was told.  
So they need to come up with a better plan on these days in case this happens again though. Skin can freeze in 5 mins in conditions like this morning.

Jellybean said "    Cheezies said "Crocus-there is only a curling rink nearby. Which is big enough to squish people in. But I'm not sure if they have access to it. Plus it's not a 'sheltered' school. It's wide open field, so it's even colder/windier. The parking lot is not a safe location during this weather. " The school would not have access to it unless there was a plan in place to have access to it. Which there should be, in my opinion. I know the student population of crocus would not fit in to the community centre, but there are enough students at a high school that own their own vehicles to be able to keep warm in, and the rest could be sent over to the community centre. There are also teacher vehicles that could be used, etc.   A high school is a different situation, as there aren't so many "rules" with coming and going in and out of the school as there is in an elementary school situation, but there is still options for emergency planning. There are enough businesses towards first street and richmond as well that could be asked to be an emergency shelter. "

If they happen to have their keys on them, and not in their lockers with coats, purses, etc. They maybe could do vehicles. But that's not a plan.

Seriously people want kids going out to vehicles and all over the place? I am sure they worked as fast as they could to rectify the situation and make sure it was only a false alarm. How can you account for students if they are at community centers, churches, vehicles, etc. You need to maintain classes together. Chances are if it were a real emergency the city would have diverted buses to the school along with dispatching school buses at the same time. Those with a vehicle if checked in with teacher would probably be fine after chaos is dealt with. Maybe someone could shed light on what is the actual school procedure in these instances.

Get off the couch and without getting anything, go outside for 5 minutes. Not just outside, but in the middle of the street way from shelter.  
OK, post anything you want, you have earned the right to post.  
 
 
I'm sure the staff at the school did their best, but I bet the entire school was outside for longer than 5 minutes..

Fishin Guy said "Seriously people want kids going out to vehicles and all over the place? I am sure they worked as fast as they could to rectify the situation and make sure it was only a false alarm. How can you account for students if they are at community centers, churches, vehicles, etc. You need to maintain classes together. Chances are if it were a real emergency the city would have diverted buses to the school along with dispatching school buses at the same time. Those with a vehicle if checked in with teacher would probably be fine after chaos is dealt with. Maybe someone could shed light on what is the actual school procedure in these instances. "

Uh....same way they keep track of the students when they are lined up outside on the school yard. Students line up to exit the school, and stay in their line ups out on the school yard. The teacher's call out the names of the students to make sure all are accounted for, and then the principal is notified by a class member that all are present.  
If there is an emergency PLAN in place, then a community centre or whatever is in PLAN as the indoor emergency location would i:nclude a way of keeping order and attendance.  
For a high school though, like I say, there is not so much in the way of rules for coming and going in and out of the school, and you can't really stop a student from getting in to their own car if they have their keys on them. I'm really speaking more for elementary schools.  
It would be a bit more tricky to get a plan in place for a high school, depending on what the rules are nowadays.

Just got the call that busses will not be running outside the city tomorrow, January 13th parental discretion when sending kids to school.

Jellybean said "    Fishin Guy said "Seriously people want kids going out to vehicles and all over the place? I am sure they worked as fast as they could to rectify the situation and make sure it was only a false alarm. How can you account for students if they are at community centers, churches, vehicles, etc. You need to maintain classes together. Chances are if it were a real emergency the city would have diverted buses to the school along with dispatching school buses at the same time. Those with a vehicle if checked in with teacher would probably be fine after chaos is dealt with. Maybe someone could shed light on what is the actual school procedure in these instances. " Uh....same way they keep track of the students when they are lined up outside on the school yard. Students line up to exit the school, and stay in their line ups out on the school yard. The teacher's call out the names of the students to make sure all are accounted for, and then the principal is notified by a class member that all are present.   If there is an emergency PLAN in place, then a community centre or whatever is in PLAN as the indoor emergency location would i:nclude a way of keeping order and attendance.   For a high school though, like I say, there is not so much in the way of rules for coming and going in and out of the school, and you can't really stop a student from getting in to their own car if they have their keys on them. I'm really speaking more for elementary schools.   It would be a bit more tricky to get a plan in place for a high school, depending on what the rules are nowadays. "

I know the PROCEDURE in an emergency is to have the students exit the school in an orderly fashion and meet at a certain muster station, done it many times. What I was curious is regarding an extreme weather PROCEDURE that would be in place. Does their PROCEDURE involve an alternate muster location if it was a serious fire or problem. Any PLAN that involves a student taking off to their vehicle or leaving the area would be a very bad move as how would that PLAN ensure that all students are safe? Honestly wasn't asking about PLANS as looking for extreme weather PROCEDURE. If my employees with a fire alarm take off in their vehicle they may as well permanently stay home as chances are they would not have a job after that. I really don't think anyone wants to be searching in a building for unaccounted for students or employees. I would hope that if a student took off without consent of the person responsible for them there would be disciplinary action against that student.

I agree that this needs to be re-examined. The last time that we had a storm and highways were shut down, the division didn't have enough subs to cover for the teachers/support staff that couldn't make it in.

I'm not in BSD and am not familiar with their policies. Our division shuts their schools down and the onus is on the parents to find alternate child care if the parents work outside the home.  
 
The school division beside us keep the schools open (unless they've changed policy) so there is still a place for children of working parents to go. The onus is on the parents for travel.  
 
There have been numerous threads on the difficulty of finding child care with months notice...perhaps one of the reasons BSD keep the schools open is to accommodate those children who don't have alternate child care? I don't know the ratio of rural students to city students...but it's pretty hard to continue with lessons when a good portion of the students aren't there. Maybe it's something worth finding out how critical it is for Brandon students to attend on these days when they could be staying at home if they have a parent.

All schools in Branson School Division should be Closed. If every other division in southwestern MB is closed...why isn't Brandon? In the frigid cold temperatures it is ridiculous to keep schools open. It just goes to show that other divisions actually care about the welfare and safety of their students and staff.  
 
Edited by Thelongandshortofit, 2017-01-12 22:07:15

Thelongandshortofit said "All schools in Branson School Division should be Closed. If every other division in southwestern MB is closed...why isn't Brandon? In the frigid cold temperatures it is ridiculous to keep schools open. It just goes to show that other divisions actually care about the welfare and safety of their students and staff.     Edited by Thelongandshortofit, 2017-01-12 22:07:15"

So what else should be closed then? If it is not possible for me to drive a few minutes within the city to get my kids to school, where they will stay inside, then it must not be safe for me to get to work either, where I will also stay inside.  
The only concern with people being at work or at school is if there is no safe place to go if they can't stay in the building. We can't shut down the whole city every time it hits -40.  
Drive for the conditions, dress for the conditions, and have safe plans in place for your day. We live in Manitoba, this is life, get used to it.

Fishin Guy said "    Jellybean said "    Fishin Guy said "Seriously people want kids going out to vehicles and all over the place? I am sure they worked as fast as they could to rectify the situation and make sure it was only a false alarm. How can you account for students if they are at community centers, churches, vehicles, etc. You need to maintain classes together. Chances are if it were a real emergency the city would have diverted buses to the school along with dispatching school buses at the same time. Those with a vehicle if checked in with teacher would probably be fine after chaos is dealt with. Maybe someone could shed light on what is the actual school procedure in these instances. " Uh....same way they keep track of the students when they are lined up outside on the school yard. Students line up to exit the school, and stay in their line ups out on the school yard. The teacher's call out the names of the students to make sure all are accounted for, and then the principal is notified by a class member that all are present.   If there is an emergency PLAN in place, then a community centre or whatever is in PLAN as the indoor emergency location would i:nclude a way of keeping order and attendance.   For a high school though, like I say, there is not so much in the way of rules for coming and going in and out of the school, and you can't really stop a student from getting in to their own car if they have their keys on them. I'm really speaking more for elementary schools.   It would be a bit more tricky to get a plan in place for a high school, depending on what the rules are nowadays. " I know the PROCEDURE in an emergency is to have the students exit the school in an orderly fashion and meet at a certain muster station, done it many times. What I was curious is regarding an extreme weather PROCEDURE that would be in place. Does their PROCEDURE involve an alternate muster location if it was a serious fire or problem. Any PLAN that involves a student taking off to their vehicle or leaving the area would be a very bad move as how would that PLAN ensure that all students are safe? Honestly wasn't asking about PLANS as looking for extreme weather PROCEDURE. If my employees with a fire alarm take off in their vehicle they may as well permanently stay home as chances are they would not have a job after that. I really don't think anyone wants to be searching in a building for unaccounted for students or employees. I would hope that if a student took off without consent of the person responsible for them there would be disciplinary action against that student. "

That's why I said it would be trickier to make these plans for a high school. There is nothing stopping a grade 12 student from taking shelter in their own vehicle. It's the same at a work place. You can't tell a bunch of adults they can't go wait in their cars while a fire alarm gets sorted out.  
I'm not sure where you got anything about "taking off" without being accounted for. I'd like to see you take disciplinary action on an adult or teenager for getting in their car to keep warm.

so why shouldn't children learn to bundle up and go to school?  
 
If you're out of town, then as the BSD stated, attendance is at parents' discretion and keep your kids at home. But if you're in town and are only a couple of blocks from the school, bundle your kids up and let them walk. Why should the whole division be closed.  
 
And it's not about childcare. It's about the fact that the city doesn't shut down just because it's really really cold. If services are running IN TOWN, buses are running, businesses are open, then so should the schools.  
 
Why should the welfare and safety of students and school staff be any more important than every other working person in Brandon.  
 
I say, if the BSD shuts down then ALL businesses should shut down also and EVERYONE stays home.

I went to school in prairie sprite school division as a kid and the school where closed most of the school in the division are in small towns and the business in town where still opened. I personally think bsd should shut down there is kids walking to school or waiting for the bus in the city and in this cold there freezing I walk my niece and nephew to the bus stop and there bus is always late we all dress as warm as possible including me and believe it's freezing waiting. Unfortunately at the bus stop there is also children who aren't dressed as warm as we are and there so cold there crying. Not everyone in the city has vehicles to drive there kids right from home to school so when you are waiting for a bus that can be a good 10 to 15 mins late or walking in this cold I feel absolutely horrible for these kids they aren't adults.

Windinthetrees said "so why shouldn't children learn to bundle up and go to school?     If you're out of town, then as the BSD stated, attendance is at parents' discretion and keep your kids at home. But if you're in town and are only a couple of blocks from the school, bundle your kids up and let them walk. Why should the whole division be closed.     And it's not about childcare. It's about the fact that the city doesn't shut down just because it's really really cold. If services are running IN TOWN, buses are running, businesses are open, then so should the schools.     Why should the welfare and safety of students and school staff be any more important than every other working person in Brandon.     I say, if the BSD shuts down then ALL businesses should shut down also and EVERYONE stays home. "

I sent my teen to school bundled up yesterday. She was wearing boots ( not shoes), mitts, scarf, toque that covered her whole head and a super warm parka (which she wore hood up too). But then the schools fire alarm went off, and all that warm stuff was in her locker (cause you can't wear or take it to class). So she was sent out into extreme temperatures in only her basic clothes! Some kids were wearing tshirts. If they were in gym, they could be in shorts!!!! These are factors that BSD has to take into consideration (children's safety) when opening these schools during these temps.  
So I can bundle them to the nines and send them, like I did, but that didn't help yesterday did it.  
The teachers were awesome and none of this is their fault. They worked as fast as they could to get those students back in to another part of the school. But these children were still exposed in an unsheltered area ( not much to surround crocus from elements), for 10mins (exposed skin can start to freeze in 5 mins).  
No they can't go to cars( if they have them and keys) and they shouldn't. They are to all head to parking lot and then wait and look for their teacher. From then the teacher instructs them on what to do. That's the only "plan" they are told.

Yesterday our son was in gym when the fire alarm went off. He had to stand outside with shorts and a t-shirt on. So what uneducated administrator decided to have a fake fire alarm on one of the coldest days of the winter? He already hates school and Crocus Plains and this just adds to the fire. Seriouly, the school buses were not running yet you have the kids stand outside. Maybe the administrators have some type of education but street smarts ishould be a requirement.

Cheezie said her daughter was told the alarm went off because of the cold so NO it wasn't a planned fire drill. Really! You think that would have been a good day for a drill! Nobodies that stupid. I dont think any day in the winter is a good day to have a fire. I go to work dressed warm but I sure don't have a jacket or even a sweater on while I'm there. I'd be very cold in -5! Stuff happens so I guess you just have decided if one day is going to make you keep your child home, just in case. I understand your frustration but it can't be helped. Could have been the hospital that had a malfunction or even worse a real fire, what can you do? It sucks but definitely something to think about...