ᐃᕐᑲᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖕᒋᑦ
IQALUIT DISTRICT EDUCATION AUTHORITY
ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒃ
POLICY: S-5
SUBJECT: School Closure Due to Inclement Weather
APPROVED: October 30, 2008
AMENDED:
March 30, 2015
Page 1 of 3
Definition:
Inclement weather refers to conditions such as ice, fog, rain, sleet, snow, extreme temperatures and/or wind which are
considered serious enough to raise concerns regarding the safety of students travelling to and/or from school.
Responsibility:
Parents are the primary decision makers in matters involving students during inclement weather. Each parent can make
the final decision on whether or not to send his/her child to school when weather is a factor.
The responsibility for school closures when weather is concerned rests with the Iqaluit District Education Authority
(IDEA) under the current Education Act.
General:
At a local level, the IDEA, community and school staff realizes the importance of student safety when weather is an
issue. It is also realized that closing the school because of weather is a judgment call and it is difficult to have exact
guidelines that can be followed. To ensure that the greatest possible opportunity exists for everyone to be informed
when the school is closed due to weather, the IDEA must have a procedure in place which is communicated to students,
parents and staff and contained in the school’s procedure manual.
SCHOOL CLOSURE PROCEDURES:
The IDEA may decide to close all or specific schools due to severe weather or snowstorms, adverse road conditions
and/or limited visibility, if it is in the best interests of the children that such action be taken.
Any of the following factors, or combinations of factors, shall serve as guidelines for considering cancellation of buses
and/or closure of the schools:

Wind-chill Temperature: -50 degrees or lower reported by the weather office for elementary and middle schools
and -55 degrees or lower reported by the weather office for the Inuksuk High School

Visibility of less than 200 meters

Road closures by the R.C.M.P., municipal or other local road officials

Winds at 60 km/h or higher
The Iqaluit District Education Authority
ᐃᕐᑲᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖕᒋᑦ
IQALUIT DISTRICT EDUCATION AUTHORITY
ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒃ
POLICY: S-5
SUBJECT: School Closure Due to Inclement Weather
APPROVED: October 30, 2008
AMENDED:
March 30, 2015
Page 2 of 3
PROCEDURES
Prior to School Opening:
 A decision to close schools shall be made between 6:30 and 6:45 a.m. and will be based on:
Report from Bus Company
Report from city on road conditions
Weather report
 Communication with the media is through the IDEA. Schools and classes will be announced as closed because of
inclement weather conditions and/or the cancellation of bus transportation
 The IDEA Chairperson or his delegate will advise the principal(s)
 The principal(s) will then advise the staff of the closure in accordance with the procedure which the school has in
place.
 Students and staff are excused from attendance from any Iqaluit school designated as closed due to inclement
weather.
During School Hours:
Once schools are opened, every effort will be made to send students home at their normal dismissal times at
lunch/midday or the end of the day. If there is extreme weather deterioration, a decision may be made to send students
home early. The decision to close schools will come from the IDEA Chairperson. The IDEA administrator will
communicate the closure to the schools by phone and/or fax. The IDEA administrator will notify the Radio Stations of
the closure of the school(s). The principal(s) will ensure the message is communicated to all staff in the school. The
principal(s), adequate staff and Custodian(s) will remain in the school to ensure the security of the building and until
reasonably assured that all students have had an opportunity to arrive home safely.
School Bus Cancellation:
Hazardous Weather/Road Conditions
Ice-covered roads and/or snow-blocked roads
Any other weather conditions that may put students at risk
Other Emergencies
For any other emergency that arises, the IDEA Chair will determine if bus transportation should be cancelled
The Iqaluit District Education Authority
ᐃᕐᑲᓗᐃᑦ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑐᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖕᒋᑦ
IQALUIT DISTRICT EDUCATION AUTHORITY
ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᕐᓂᕐᒃ
POLICY: S-5
SUBJECT: School Closure Due to Inclement Weather
APPROVED: October 30, 2008
AMENDED:
March 30, 2015
Page 3 of 3
INDIVIDUAL ROUTE CANCELLATIONS
The bus driver has the authority to cancel busing on a particular route due to unsafe road conditions or any condition
that puts the safety of the students at risk. The bus driver will inform the IDEA immediately of such cancellation
The Iqaluit District Education Authority