Vernon, North Okanagan-Shuswap School Districts call students back to class

UPDATE: POWER BACK ON IN MOST SHUSWAP SCHOOLS, CLASSES A GO 

NORTH OKANAGAN – The North Okanagan-Shuswap and Vernon School Districts are welcoming students back to class Wednesday, Jan. 7.

The green light from the ditricts comes after two snow days due to severe weather. School District 83 hadn’t called a snow day in decades.

At least one school will be getting one more day off. The power went off at Sorrento Elementary School at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday and B.C. Hydro is estimating it will not be restored until 11 p.m. 

It was uncertain whether Parkview Elementary School and Eagle River Secondary in Sicamous would be open Wednesday due to a power outage, but power has been restored and the district announced Wednesday morning classes are on. It was also uncertain whether North Shuswap Elementary School would be open Wednesday due to a power outage. The district announced early Wednesday morning the school would be closed, but by 8:30 a.m. power was back on and the district rescinded the closure. North Shuswap Elementary will be open for those who can make it and buses will be running. Transportation will be contacting parents to let them know the details.

"We are very happy to be welcoming our students back to school today, after what turned out to be an extra long holiday," Superintendent of SD 83 Glenn Borthistle said. 

District crews have been working hard clearing away snow from parking lots and walkways to have schools ready to go Wednesday.

Classes will resume in all Vernon schools, including the Vernon Christian School and St. James School as well. 

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

—This story was edited at 9 p.m. Jan. 6 to include an update from School District 83 regarding a power outage at Sicamous schools and again at 6:15 a.m. Jan. 7 to say power had been restored. The story was edited again at 7:52 a.m. Jan. 7 to say North Shuswap School is without power and will be closed another day. The story was edited again at 8:32 a.m. to say power is back on at North Shuswap Elementary and the school will be open. The story was updated again at 9:09 a.m. Jan. 7 to say Sorrento Elementary School is closed Jan. 7.