The decision to cancel school transportation is the responsibility of the
General Manager or designated representative, in cooperation with the
school bus operators.

When transportation services are cancelled, the schools remain open unless
the school board has decided to close. If a bus route or transportation
services are cancelled in the morning, buses will not operate in the
afternoon.

It is the responsibility of parents and/or guardians to decide if they want
their child(ren) to travel to school on inclement weather days.

1. he decision to cancel transportation due to inclement weather shall be
   made after discussion with school bus operators, based on information from
   Environment Canada, OPP, MTO and local road superintendents from
   Wellington and Dufferin counties;
   


2. The geographic areas of Wellington and Dufferin Counties served by
   STWDSTS are divided into 4 geographic divisions for the purposes of
   inclement weather;
   


3. Within each division, the General Manager will assign a “Lead Operator”
   to co-ordinate the inclement weather bus cancellations communications
   amongst the stakeholders;
   


4. Each inclement weather division is colour coded to assist stakeholders to
   better understand the areas that are affected by inclement weather;
   


5. STWDSTS will post on its website, stwdsts.ca, “Inclement Weather Cards”
   and cancellation notices;
   

1. Investigate weather and road conditions for Wellington and Dufferin
   Counties prior to 5:45 am.
   


2. Make a decision on the cancellation of the buses by 6:15 am.
   


3. Call the Directors of Education or designate to inform them of the
   decision to cancel school buses.
   


4. Post the inclement weather announcement to the STWDSTS web site by
   6:15 am, contact media to inform the public of the decision
   to cancel buses.

1. Make a decision to cancel buses prior to 1:30pm.
   


2. Call the Directors of Education or designate to inform them of the
   decision to cancel school buses.
   


3. Post the inclement weather announcement to the STWDSTS website by
   1:30 pm to inform the public of the decision to cancel school buses.
   

1. Secure the vehicle and passenger(s) in a safe location then contact the
   Dispatcher giving the route number, location, number of students on board,
   the circumstances of the emergency and if the bus can follow its schedule.
   

• Impassable road due to snow or ice – cannot proceed without assistance
  from grader or sander – bus will be late arriving at destination; or
• Impassable road due to snow or ice – unable to travel down road (name) –
  unable to pick up or drop off student(s) (name); or
• Low visibility due to snow or fog – cannot proceed - at (safe) location -will
  not arrive at destination until (fog/snow) clears.

1. Communicate with the local road superintendent(s) to arrange assistance
   for buses that cannot move because of the road conditions.
   


2. Contact the school(s) and STWDSTS with the following information: The
   route number, the location of the vehicle the number of students on board
   the circumstances of the emergency, and if the bus can follow its schedule.
   


3. Maintain communication with the school and STWDSTS with updates until
   the event is brought to a conclusion.
   

1. If the temperature has reached –35°C with windchill will make the decision
   to cancel buses by 5:30 a.m.
   


2. Inform the Directors of each school board of the decision to cancel buses
   The decision to close schools due to inclement weather is the responsibility
   of each school board.
   


3. Post the inclement weather announcement to STWDSTS’s website by 6:15
   a.m. informing the public of the decision to cancel buses. If advised of
   school closures by the Directors of each school board notification will also
   be posted on STWDSTS’s website about school closures.