HALIFAX – Concerned parents say a parking lot at a school in Eastern Passage, N.S. is so icy and dangerous their kids are at risk, but the school board and city are disputing who should clear it.
The lot at Oceanview Elementary School is covered in ice, and parents and children have to carefully make their way across the lot to the school. The school does not offer parking on its property.
Parents say there have been close calls in the past and it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured.
“If one child here slips and falls and hits their head, it could be a concussion, that could mean lights out,” said Angie Dicks, a parent of two students who attend the school.
Anthony Eisan took it upon himself to salt the lot on Thursday morning because conditions were so bad.
“It wouldn’t take much at all for a car to spin around and hit a small child,” he said.
There has been a long dispute between the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Halifax Regional School Board (HRSB) over who is responsible for maintaining the lot.
The property is owned by the city, which put up warning signs Tuesday to avoid liability for potential injuries. But after tremendous pressure from parents, the signs are coming down and the city will take over snow clearing for the winter.
However, the city maintains it should be the school board’s responsibility.
The cost to maintain the lot is pegged at $2,500, but the school board says they aren’t making any commitment for next winter.
“It will be something we consider during our budget process,” said Doug Hadley, a spokesperson for the HRSB. “It’s not something that we would sit here today and say that we’re going to do.”
Meanwhile, parents are hoping a permanent solution for the lot will be found soon.
“It’s very icy, very dangerous for the kids and the parents walking across,” said Tracey Doucette.
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