Winnipeg schools reopen as teachers warned to report to work

Many Winnipeg school divisions opened schools Friday as a second storm blew through the city in as many days, with some employees warned they’d be docked pay if they didn’t show up for work.

Many rural divisions cancelled classes Friday morning owing to an Alberta clipper, which brought snow, freezing temperatures and strong wind gusts to southern Manitoba.

A Winnipeg Metro Superintendents spokesperson said officials met Friday morning and, based on conditions at 6 a.m., made the decision to open schools inside the Perimeter Highway.

The decision on whether to close schools in inclement weather depends on Winnipeg Transit operations, highway conditions and Winnipeg police advisories.

Some school transportation in the city was affected by the poor side road conditions that caused delays Friday morning, the spokesperson said.

In rural divisions, the decision largely depends on highway conditions since many students take the bus to school.

Some schools in Winnipeg kept their doors closed Friday, a day after every city school was shuttered because of blizzard conditions.

The Seine River School Division closed all of its schools, including four in the St. Norbert area. Division scolaire franco-manitobaine also closed a majority of its rural schools. Three of its rural schools remained open, but no bus service was available.

A section of the north Perimeter Highway, between Portage Avenue and Deacons Corner, closed briefly Friday due to blizzard conditions.

“It is the division’s expectation that all employees will report to work when work sites are open.”

Staff and union representatives were still reeling about Thursday’s last-minute decision to close all schools amid the blizzard, which dumped between seven and 10 centimetres of snow on the city.

On Wednesday afternoon, the River East Transcona School Division sent a letter to employees reminding them of the division’s policy on staff attendance during inclement weather and the salary deductions that come with not showing up for work.

“It is the division’s expectation that all employees will report to work when work sites are open,” the letter, obtained by the Free Press, says.

“Each employee must make his or her own judgment regarding safety when work sites in the division are declared open.”

Teachers, school administrators and consultants would receive a salary deduction at the cost of a substitute and an extracurricular leave of absence day or personal leave day would be used, the letter stated.

“We are put at risk more frequently than the community knows. There is an expectation that we are at their disposal.”

The Winnipeg School Division has a similar policy.

An employee who works in the division said the policy minimizes the importance of educators and school staff.

“We are put at risk more frequently than the community knows. There is an expectation that we are at their disposal,” the employee said. “We understand that there is a trickle down effect when parents can’t drop their kids off, but waiting 12 minutes before school opens to announce a closure is reckless for not just staff but students and their families, as well.”

Some divisions only notified parents and teachers of school closures Thursday minutes before the first bell was due to ring.

The Winnipeg School Division did not answer questions about its weather policy or messaging to staff and students before deadline Friday.

“We live in a place where extreme weather is frequent. Clearer protocols and earlier decision-making are needed to prioritize safety.”

River East superintendent Sandra Herbst was not made available for an interview Friday. Division spokesman Adrian Alleyne said in an email that prior to serious weather events, a reminder about staff attendance is sent out.

“In this case, a reminder of the expected practices was sent to all school administrators on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of the impending weather system, for redistribution to their staff.”

The employee wants to see divisions adopt a policy that compensates workers for up to three days in the case of inclement weather.

The union representing Winnipeg School Division employees agreed.

Employees should not feel pressured to drive in dangerous conditions and risk personal safety to avoid losing pay, Winnipeg Teachers’ Association president Kristen Fallis said.

“We live in a place where extreme weather is frequent. Clearer protocols and earlier decision-making are needed to prioritize safety,” she said in an email.

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society sent a letter to the Metro Superintendents Thursday afternoon saying it would like to work with the board to develop clear protocols on what divisions should do when severe weather is predicted.

The union’s letter said it received a significant number of messages from members who were frustrated about the timing of school closures Thursday.

“We recognize the complexity of these decisions and the many factors involved. At the same time, our members reasonably expect that when advance warnings exist, decisions will err on the side of caution to protect those required to travel to and from schools,” the letter signed by MTS president Lillian Klausen said.

A request to speak with Metro Superintendents chairwoman Shelley Amos was not granted Friday. The Metro spokesperson declined to comment on Thursday’s decision-making process.

Education minister Tracy Schmidt said decisions like school closures are best left to local authorities and said the province’s job is to support divisions.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca