District Policies

District Policies

The following are some District Policies that may be relevant to parents. The policies are available on the District website.

B-360 – School Fees, Supplies and Deposits

C-222 – Videotaping, Audiotaping and Photographing Students
C-315 – Cybersafety
C-320 – Supervision of Students on School Buses
C-329 – Field Trips
C-350 – Parent /Student appeals
C-410 – Child Abuse
C-428 – Administration of Medication
C-429 – Anaphylaxis

D-121 – Animals on District Property and in Classrooms
D-201 – Parent Advisory Councils

School Closure (see below)

School District No. 62 (Sooke)

SCHOOL CLOSURE DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CONDITIONS

Schools in School District No. 62 (Sooke) will generally be open for students and staff on all prescribed school days; however, circumstances (snow, flooding, power outage, etc.) could arise causing closure. This will be determined by the Superintendent in consultation with staff and other officials.

For snow or other emergency closures prior to school opening:

1. The Superintendent is advised by the Transportation Department that the roads are in poor condition and it is inadvisable to run the buses. Media contacts are made by the Superintendent or Secretary-Treasurer. Closure announcements will be made as close to 6:30 a.m. as possible. Parents will be advised that, although schools are open:

(a) the choice to bring children to school safely is a parental choice,

(b) that it won’t be a normal instructional day because buses are not running, and some staff may not be able to report to work,

The Superintendent may also make a decision to close schools for students or for both staff and students on that day, depending on the severity of the condition.

2. If the police issue a “stay off the roads” warning for our school district area, the Superintendent may make an announcement that schools/district sites are closed to both students and staff. Some schools may be kept open because of location and the need for a safe place for students.

For snow or other emergency closures once the school day has commenced:

1. The Transportation Department or other member of the Facilities staff provide input to the Superintendent of Schools. In all but exceptional circumstances, the schools will remain open and students will continue with classes for the duration of the school day in order to provide duty of care. If the decision is made to close the schools prior to the normal end of day, the Superintendent of Schools advises the schools of the decision and contacts the local media.

2. An emergency bus schedule is organized and schools are advised regarding their school’s closing time dependent on the arrival of buses.

3. For elementary and middle school students, parent contact or emergency number contact is made to advise that schools are closing early.

4. For elementary and middle school students for whom no home or emergency number contact is made, the school administration and staff make arrangements for the student to stay at school under supervision until there is a contact made and transportation home can be arranged.

5. Depending on the severity of the closure and the weather conditions, arrangements to leave early by any employee will be considered by their Principal or supervisor.

6. If your electrical power goes out, schools should be able to use the 1-888-POWERON number with the school’s BC Hydro site location number (SLID) that was previously issued by BC Hydro.

Staff Members

1. If the local police do not issue a “stay off the roads” warning for our school district area, then staff members are expected to get to their worksite or an alternative worksite within the School District at the earliest safe time or else use a discretionary day, holiday, or take time off without pay. Expectations of employees will be as follows:

A) School administrators – are expected to attend at their school as close to the regular time as safety permits. Supervision of staff and of any students who do arrive will be important on that day. It is possible home contacts or emergency contacts may occur if weather conditions deteriorate.

B) Teaching staff – are expected to attend at their school as close to the regular time as safety permits. Such a day provides opportunities to plan, make home contact, focus on student assessment and to complete other duties. Teachers not able to be in attendance at their regular school site are required to attend at another school site in the Sooke School District for the day. Staff who do not report to their normal worksite must contact the Principal or designate.

C) Support staff – are expected to attend at their school as close to the regular time as safety permits. Such a day provides opportunities to complete other duties in the work area. Support staff members not in attendance at their regular school site are required to attend at another school site in the Sooke School District for the day. Staff who do not report to their normal worksite must contact the Principal or designate.

D) District staff and those not assigned to a specific worksite are expected to attend at their usual places of work as close to the regular time as safety permits. Where possible, these staff members will continue with regular duties. Staff who do not report to their normal worksite must contact their immediate supervisor.

E) If a decision is made to close schools/worksites for students and employees, all staff will be granted leave of absence with pay for that portion of the day.

In the event that the employee cannot attend at their school or normal work site, nor at an alternative school or work site in the Sooke School District, for a reason that the only route(s) to such sites are:

Blocked

Physically impassable; or

Subject to a police advisory in the nature of urging motorists to stay off roads in the Sooke School District except in emergency circumstances,

Then the employee will be paid for the day.

DL/BF:mw

Updated: Dec. 2, 2009; Last Version Mar. 10/09