A heavy snowfall on Dec. 2 resulted in a total of 18 bus route cancellations on the Westlock side of Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS).
Westlock Elementary, R.F. Staples, Busby, Eleanor Hall and Pembina North Community School all experienced cancellations.
PHPS director of transportation Shantelle Haitel said there were also four routes that were partially cancelled because certain roads “just weren’t passable.”
She noted that all the complete or partial cancellations were on the Westlock side of the division. While the snowstorm did sweep through Barrhead and area, they still didn’t receive as much snow as Westlock.
By the morning of Dec. 7, all buses were running throughout the school division.
According to Pembina Hills’ website, bus drivers ultimately make the decision about whether buses will run or not, as they are the most familiar with the road conditions on their routes.
Bus drivers will then notify parents along the route, along with the school principal and the transportation director.
Pembina Hills will only cancel routes if there is a major storm forecasted for the area.
In that case, the transportation director will wake up early in the morning to monitor weather information.
If it is shaping up to be particularly bad, she may make the call to cancel school buses across the division or parts of it.
Bus drivers will then notify parents and notices will be posted to the PHPS website.
It should be stressed that, even if the buses are running, parents may opt not to send their children on the bus.
