All schools expected to be open Monday: Chilliwack School District

After a week of school closures in Chilliwack, all schools are expected to be open on Monday.

“The district senior team is planning a full return to school on Monday, Nov. 22, and will communicate information regarding return to school, including viable bus routes, to all families on Sunday, Nov. 21,” Chilliwack School District superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam said in an announcement on Thursday, Nov. 18.

They announced that night that schools would be closed today (Friday, Nov. 19).

“We received information today that Highway 1 will remain closed for next week and perhaps longer, with Highway 7 via Agassiz open for emergency use only,” Arul-pragasam said. “We understand that some staff may not be able to reach their work site due to road closures and evacuation alerts.”

Despite the official status of closure, schools and other sites will be open today (Nov. 19) for emergency designated staff, principals and vice principals. Sites will be accessible today for other staff that would like to attend in preparation for next week, community partners and third-party service providers (not including Yarrow and Kwíyeqel Secondary School South which remain closed).

“The district understands that keeping schools closed for the past four days has negatively impacted some families in our community. Please know that the senior team has carefully considered many factors, including staff and student safety, in making this difficult decision to close schools for students Nov. 19.”