After a recent string of cold days, the Regina Public School Division has had to use their cold weather plans several times throughout the week.

Spokesperson Terry Lazarou said part of those plans includes cancelling specialized transit when the weather gets colder than -40 C with the windchill.

“That means that any student who has special needs requiring a wheelchair or some other devices on the bus, or light transit such as cabs or vans, that transportation would be cancelled at -40°C windchill.”

However, Lazarou said schools will never close due to the cold.

“There will always be students who show up for school on a school day, if the schools were closed, that would create a severe risk and danger for the students,” Lazarou said. “Our schools always remain open to the best of our ability; there have been rare situations, for instance when a furnace breaks down, or a water main breaks, or something like that.”

Lazarou said indoor recess is called on the discretion of the schools.

“When it’s below -20°C temperature wise, recesses are held indoors and on the choice of the principal and the school community.”

Lazarou says the public and Catholic school boards work together to ensure there is no confusion when it comes to bus cancellations. They also try to ensure parents know by 6:00 AM about the potential cancellations.