SCHOOL BUS Cancellation

How are decisions made to cancel bus service?

The cancellation of school bus service is a decision that is made in cooperation with information and advice from many local service providers. Starting as early as 4:30 am Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS) is in contact with the following groups: road crews for Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog Townships, weather watchers in various parts of Durham Region along with representatives from the school bus companies.

Between 4:30 and 6:00 a.m., the group monitors the weather and road conditions closely. Ongoing updates are forwarded to DSTS during this time period. Weather stations, TV and radio stations are consulted for current weather forecasts and ongoing updates.

Before 6:00 a.m. DSTS reviews the information gathered and determines if the road conditions may warrant cancellation of the school bus service. DSTS then contacts representatives from both the Durham Catholic and Durham District School Board with a recommendation.

The final step is that one of three outcomes is decided:

1) School Bus service will operate

2) School Bus service is cancelled

3) School Bus service cancelled North of Hwy 7 (including Brock, Uxbridge, Scugog and Brooklin schools)

Why is school bus service cancelled in areas of the Region, for example, north of Highway 7?

The terrain and weather conditions change north of the Oakridges moraine (the Ridges). Often weather conditions are more severe across the northern portion of Durham. The school bus routes for Brock, Uxbridge, Scugog and Brooklin schools (north of Highway 7) are: longer in length, travel on roads with posted speeds of 80 km/hr and required to travel on concession roads that can remain unplowed and unsalted until later in the day after the major arterial roads have been plowed and salted.

South of Highway 7, the major arterial roads are ploughed to accommodate commuters, and typically have larger volumes of traffic. The school bus routes (south of Highway 7) are: shorter in length and travel on roads with posted speeds of 50 km/hr.

How are parents, students and staff notified of a decision to cancel school bus service?

When the decision has been made to cancel school bus service, all major media outlets are notified by telephone and e-mail. If all school buses are cancelled the message will state "All school buses for both the Durham public and Durham catholic schools are cancelled. Schools remain open." Similarly, if schools are closed the message will indicate the closure.

If school buses are cancelled, it is for the entire day regardless of what happens to the weather during the day. Please note, if parents drop-off their children at school in the morning, they are responsibe to pick them up at the end of the day when school bus service is cancelled.

In cases of extreme weather, please listen to one of the local radio or TV stations below for notices of school bus cancellation:

CFTO, GLOBAL AND CITYTV

CKDO-AM/FM 1580/107.7 FM, KX96-FM 95.9, CFRB-AM 1010, CBC/CBL 99.1

Q107-FM 107.1, CHFI-FM 98.1, CHUM-FM 104.5, Y92-FM 91.9

EZ ROCK 97.3, CICX 105.9, CKLY - AM 91.0, The Rock 94.9 FM