Late Night School Closure Notifications Spark Parent Anger
Canberra parents experienced a frustrating Sunday evening as confirmation of school closures due to asbestos-contaminated magic sand arrived just hours before the school week was set to begin. The last-minute notifications, some arriving as late as 9pm, left families across the Australian Capital Territory scrambling to make alternative arrangements for Monday.
The chaos unfolded as the ACT Education Directorate ordered the closure of more than 70 schools after discovering potentially hazardous magic sand products in craft rooms. The colourful sensory sand, popular in primary school classrooms, was found to contain asbestos, prompting immediate safety concerns.
Communication Breakdown Across Canberra Schools
Parents reported significant disparities in notification times, with some schools on Canberra's northside providing updates several hours earlier than their southside counterparts. This inconsistent communication approach highlighted the autonomous nature of ACT public schools, which some parents noted created confusion during the emergency situation.
WhatsApp parent groups became the primary source of real-time information as official channels struggled to keep pace with developments. The green notification threads buzzed with confusion and frustration as families tried to determine whether their children's schools would be open the following day.
One Weston Creek parent described the situation as reminiscent of early COVID-19 lockdown days, when inconsistent approaches across schools created varying experiences for students. The magic sand incident revealed similar coordination challenges within the territory's education system.
Asbestos Removal Process Could Take Days
The school closures will remain in effect while the territory's limited number of licensed asbestos management professionals systematically inspect each affected school. The removal process involves identifying the plastic tubs of contaminated sand and carefully bagging them for disposal.
Education authorities have described the health risk as very low, but opted for complete school closures as a precautionary measure. This decision has left many parents questioning why alternative approaches weren't considered, such as targeted removal of the specific products without disrupting entire school communities.
For working parents without flexible employment arrangements, the sudden closures present significant challenges. Unlike during pandemic remote learning, schools have not established emergency care arrangements for families affected by the unexpected closures.
The incident has raised broader questions about emergency response coordination and communication within the ACT education system. As the asbestos removal process continues, Canberra families face ongoing uncertainty about when normal school operations will resume.
