Will there be school bus disruptions amid extreme temperatures?

Cold temperatures complicate things. That's no secret. Even getting kids to school can be a problem whenever the mercury drops too low.

So what does it take to cancel a bus route? The west-central region covers three different school divisions, each with different rules when it comes to running a bus in the extreme cold.

Sun West School Division

The Sun West School Division prefers to keep it private when sharing bus information. Whenever severe weather does hit, a bus driver must determine whether their route is cancelled or not by answering the following questions:

• Are temperatures at, or lower than -40° C by no later than 7:00 am?
• Is there severe wind chill at, or lower than -40° C by no later than 7:00 am?
• Are roads severely drifting or extremely icy?
• Is there limited visibility because of fog or blowing snow?

If it is determined that the bus will be cancelled, the driver then bears the responsibility of notifying families, school administration, and the Sun West Transportation Department. Nothing is to be made available through social media. 

Living Sky School Division

The Living Sky School Division tracks their route cancellations online through a comprehensive list.

Their procedure cancels bussing whenever the temperature (wind chill included) is at least -40 between 6:30-7:00 AM the morning of, or forecasted the night before. Transportation specialists do their best to make a timely decision that allows families to prepare for alternate arrangements, and communication from bus drivers to families is very important as well.

Read the LSSD Student Transportation Handbook here.

Chinook School Division

Protocols for the Chinook School Division (Leader) see bus routes cancelled whenever the temperature reaches -40°C or -45° C with wind chill (based on Environment Canada). Schools will remain open.

*When any urban or rural bus routes are cancelled, families are notified directly. Schools remain open unless otherwise noted."

Follow along with local weather yourself HERE, and if there any cancellations you would like people to know about, head here.