New Brunswick’s education minister says meetings are ongoing with school districts across the province to try and come up with options for snow days.
Dominic Cardy says it is important for students to get in front of teachers as many days as possible.
Cardy says they have considered a few options.
“Distance e-learning which, especially for kids in high school, can be an appropriate way of handling things given at that age you want to be encouraging children to be more autonomous and be independent and be able to work on their own,” said Cardy.
Another idea is cancelling school buses but keeping schools open — a system being used in Ontario and Maine.
There have already been up to 12 snow days in New Brunswick so far this winter, which Cardy said are carefully deliberated.
“All the superintendents I’ve talked to, both current and former, they talk about being up all night in the middle of the night watching the forecast, talking to people, trying to make the best decision possible,” he said. “I don’t want to second-guess them, I do want to have a policy to make sure that we’ve got our students in front of teachers as many days as possible.
Cardy said parents have also asked about summer schooling instead of winter, but he says the schools would need air conditioners, and there is also the issue of air quality in humid temperatures.
