School divisions make plans for possible closures

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/03/2009 (6349 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TEACHERS will prepare as much as two weeks’ worth of work that students can do from home or temporary lodging if flood waters force schools in Morris and Rosenort to close, Red River Valley School Division superintendent Kelly Barkman said Tuesday.

Barkman said he’ll send home a letter to parents this week before school break starts, advising them what could happen after classes resume April 6.

“If a school is ever closed, we won’t use an alternate site,” Barkman said. “Teachers will be available through email or by cell phone.”

Barkman said that school divisions along the Red River basin will meet Thursday with Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization officials to get the latest forecasts.

Border Land, Seine River, and the Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine school divisions all operate schools and run extensive school bus routes along the Red River.

“Parents don’t like it, but they’ve gotten this kind of letter from us before. They’re used to it,” Barkman said.

Schools will remain open as long as they have outside access. But there could come a time when some rural students can’t be bused, he said.

Barkman expected that schools would open on April 6, the first day after school break.

Nick Martin

Former Free Press reporter Nick Martin, who wrote the monthly suspense column in the books section and was prolific in his standalone reviews of mystery/thriller novels, died Oct. 15 at age 77 while on holiday in Edinburgh, Scotland.