Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, schools were open in the Halifax area Friday.
Getting to the classroom proved to be a challenge for some as road conditions meant some buses were late or, in some cases, didn't arrive at all.
Several buses ended up gathering at the Sobeys along the Bedford Highway -- some with children on board.
Nashwa Mohamed says she sent her kids to school Friday morning thinking everything was fine, only to later learn they never made it.
"The school didn't inform us,” Mohamed said. “They told us ‘your kids are not in school. They are absent today.’ They didn't tell us. I just figured out from the bus. I called the bus and they told me they are here in Sobeys so I came to pick them up.”
Amber Raja says her 16-year-old daughter waited 20 minutes for the bus.
Unable to find any information about the status of the bus, Raja told her daughter to come home for the day.
“I understand that it’s not an ideal system, but my concern is that there's no communication,” Raja said. “So what about the parents who have left for work and are stuck in the middle of the chaos that was created with the weather today and their kids are just standing at a bus stop.”
In a statement, the Education Minister Zach Churchill said:
“We recognize that some students experienced long waits for buses today as result of the weather and that is unfortunate,” Churchill said. “Ultimately, parents always have the right to keep their child at home should they disagree with the decision of the local (regional centre for education).”
Questions about busing were directed to Stock Transportation, who would not do an interview.
In a written statement they said, in part:
“Early this morning, Stock received notification that the roads were fit for safe transportation during a routine advisory call. However, this was prior to the snow fall.”
Many parents expressed their outrage over the bus situation on social media through the day.
By the afternoon, the precipitation had turned to rain in Halifax and Stock anticipated that all buses would be operating as normal.
As for Raja, she says officials need to communicate better in the future.
“Kids being abandoned or kids being stuck in a bus for two or three hours is not acceptable,” Raja said. “Whether that's Stock’s fault, whether that's the school board's fault, I don't really know, but at the same time, it's not OK and it needs to be addressed.”
Hadley says the Halifax Regional Centre for Education will be following up with Stock about communication.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Natasha Pace.
JUST IN: Graham Creighton says that they have been informed that Stock has advised all bus drivers to pull off the road until Dept. of transportation clears the roads. #Halifax #ColeHarbour #NS
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018
HRCE says buses are operating. According to them, Stock have a few that haven’t completed their morning runs. They did not pull buses off the road although Stock have confirmed there have been some drivers who pulled their buses to the side of the road because of the conditions.
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018
Several buses are parked at the Sobeys parking lot in Bedford. Most of the buses have children on them. #Halifax #NSStorm pic.twitter.com/Ph3xEayiP2
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018
Hearing reports of some school buses being pulled off the road as weather conditions continue to deteriorate. Still seeing some out and about but roads are not good. @CTVAtlantic pic.twitter.com/5hwdrEIAF5
— Cory McGraw (@McgrawCory) November 16, 2018
Some parents are arriving to pick up their children. They have been waiting on the buses for some time. #Halifax pic.twitter.com/PeAGJSWnVY
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018
This woman says she sent her children to school this morning thinking everything was fine. She got a call from the school a short time ago saying her kids were absent. She found them on a bus in the parking lot & is now taking them home. #Halifax pic.twitter.com/uH0yXZBQfB
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018
Statement from Stock Transportstion regarding delays with school buses in HRM. They say majority of students have been safely transported to school. @CTVAtlantic https://t.co/EZgo72sKAr
— Cory McGraw (@McgrawCory) November 16, 2018
Here is a statement from Zach Churchill, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development. pic.twitter.com/R6ACBgXfB0
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018
Stock says “All buses have been unloaded. As of now, we are projecting that all buses will be operating as normal this afternoon. However, we will continue to monitor the weather and work with HRCE to notify parents accordingly.” #Halifax
— Natasha Pace (@NatashaPace) November 16, 2018