Ross River, Yukon, school closed again due to structural concerns

The Yukon government has closed the community school inRoss River, Yukon, indefinitely.

Earlier this month, school staff raised concerns about cracks in the wall. The school was closed for a couple of days as a precaution. Two structural engineers examined the cracks and provided a preliminary assessment that the facility was safe,allowing it to be reopened last week.

However, after further investigation, the Yukon government outlined an engineering report to Highways and Public Works, late Friday. The reportcited concerns with the building's structural integrity. Based on that, the department recommended the Ross River school be closed immediately.

Cynthia Tucker, assistant deputy minister of Public Works, says the closure was, in part, due to some ambiguities in the report.

"We received a written report Friday afternoon that suggests the school may 'fail in future,'" she said."What we're trying to determine is what that actually means."

"So the only prudent course of action we can take would be to recommend closing the school until we can assure that it is safe for students to reoccupy." she said.

Ross River School was built in 2001, and, like other buildings in the community, it was built on permafrost.

Ronuk Modha, director of the Department of Education for the Yukon, says the department is working with local chief and council, school council, staff, and the community to develop a plan to minimize disruption for students. The district superintendent is in Ross River to discuss potential interim options, which include finding appropriate facilities in the community, bringing in temporary facilities such as trailers, or busingstudents to school in nearby Faro.

"Those are all things we want to talk to the community about," said Modha. "We don't want to make any decisions without getting the input of the community. Becausewe want to minimize the stress of the community."

The closure affects approximately 50 students from kindergarten to Grade 10, as well assome students attending Ross River's Yukon College campus, which is housed in the same building.The school's community librarywill also be closed.