TLDSB announces school closures ahead of possibly messy weather

FILE- A empty classroom is pictured. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) announced a system-wide closure for Thursday in response to anticipated weather conditions that could make roads icy and slippery.

The board says the closure impacts all schools, education centres and child care centres located inside school facilities, adding it is due to “a rapid freeze, snowfall and strong winds causing low visibility throughout the board tonight and tomorrow.”

“This decision was made with the safety of our students and staff as the top priority,” the board stated. “We are communicating with families now in an effort to give time to make alternative arrangements.”

The school board emcompasses Muskoka, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton.

TLDSB confirmed students would not shift to online learning. “We appreciate your understanding during this time.”

Environment Canada issued a special weather advisory for the area on Wednesday, noting “rapidly falling temperatures, snow and local blowing snow Thursday morning to early Thursday evening.”

Trillium Lakelands made a similar announcement last month, closing all learning facilities one day ahead of a winter storm warning, which went on to dump a significant amount of snowfall across the region.