The Ross River School has been closed indefinitely due to concerns over the building’s structural integrity.

The closure was announced Sunday by the Yukon government. It’s the second time in just over a week the building has shut down, after cracks were discovered in the walls.

Two independent structural engineers investigated the structure on Jan. 10 and determined it was safe, though trusses would be reinforced to prevent further shifting.

The school reopened two days later.

But further investigation last week, culminating in an engineering report submitted late Friday, showed there are “concerns with the structural integrity of the facility,” the Department of Highways and Public Works said in a news release.

“We’re further assessing the situation,” said spokeswoman Doris Wurfbaum.

She said officials are meeting today to discuss the issue, but would not comment further.

Cynthia Tucker, the department’s assistant deputy minister for property management, and the school board superintendent are in the community today, meeting with parents, teachers, and the Ross River Dena chief and council for community input on how to proceed.

“Right now, our main priority is to minimize the disruption to students and staff in the community,” Department of Education spokesman Ronuk Modha said this morning.

“We recognize that the closure of the school is putting a lot of stress on students, parents and staff.”

About 50 students from Kindergarten to Grade 10 attend the school, plus 17 staff – eight teachers, seven educational assistants and two aboriginal language instructors.

Yukon College’s Ross River Dene Cho Kê’endį campus also runs classes out of the building. Roughly 50 students and instructors are affected by the closure, said college spokesman Michael Vernon.

Two heavy equipment technician courses are continuing in the mobile trades trailer located outside the school. Arrangements are being made to provide washroom facilities for the 13 students and two staff.

The college is still searching for alternate classroom space in the community for upcoming courses, including bulk water delivery, knitting and drum-making, Vernon said.

Today’s community meeting will look at the potential options available for Ross River students. They include searching for any other facilities in town to hold classes in the meantime, bring in temporary facilities, like trailers, or bus students to Del Van Gorder School in Faro.

“We’re looking at all the options that are potentially available,” said Modha. “We haven’t made any final decisions. We want to discuss all these options with the community.”

The department has taken some initial steps to see what might be possible.

Modha said there’s space for Ross River students the Faro school. Alternatively, Yukon College has trailers that could serve as classrooms in the interim.

The official Opposition called on the government this morning to explain why the initial engineering assessment deemed the school was safe.

“While it is reassuring to know that Ross River students are out of danger, we need to know the circumstances that led to the building being declared safe last Tuesday,” said Education critic Jim Tredger.

“As a result of the initial engineering assessment, students may have showed up for class at an unsafe facility for the better part of a week. Why?”

When asked about this, cabinet spokeswoman Elaine Schiman said: “I think that’s the question we’re all looking at right now .... We are also asking about that. We can’t really answer it. It’s a question we have as well.”

New Highways and Public Works Minister Scott Kent was not available for comment before press time this afternoon.