UPDATE 4 p.m.:
School will be back in session Thursday for hundreds of students who were sent home Wednesday.
Widespread power outages left four schools in the Vernon district in the cold Wednesday morning. Lumby’s JW Inglis Elementary and Charles Bloom Secondary, Cherryville Elementary and BX Elementary in Vernon sent students home around 11 a.m.
Power has since been restored at BX and Cherryville, while confirmation is still being sought at the two Lumby schools.
“We will be ready for your kids tomorrow and I look forward to seeing each and every one of them,” BX principal Lance Johnson said.
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ORIGINAL 11 a.m.:
Students at several area schools were sent home for the day on Wednesday.
A windstorm knocked out power at Vernon’s BX Elementary, as well as Lumby’s Charles Bloom Secondary and JW Inglis Elementary and Cherryville Elementary, leaving students without Internet, heat or ventilation.
Since BC Hydro was unable to confirm when power would be restored, the kids were sent home for the day.
Buses arrived at BX at 11 a.m., and in Lumby and Cherryville at 11:30 a.m. for students who normally take the bus home.
Those who aren’t able to go home will be able to remain at the school with proper distancing.
“The BX staff will not send any students home until they have made direct contact with the parent by phone,” BX principal Lance Johnson said. “BX staff are currently in the process of phoning each family.”
With Internet down and only one phone line available, families are asked to only call the schools if it is an emergency.
READ MORE: BLACKOUT: Vernon hit hard by windstorm
READ MORE: VIDEO: Windstorm knocks out power, downs trees throughout the Shuswap
