School reopens in Ross River, Yukon, after building declared safe

Students went back to class in Ross River, Yukon, Tuesday after engineers determined the building was safe.

Students and staff were sent home early on Friday after cracks were discovered in the building. Engineers were sent to inspect the school on Saturday.

Ronuk Moda, speaking for the Yukon education department, says the government made a promise to residents at a public meeting Monday night.

"We have made a commitment to the community that we will be coming back once we get the final reports, we will be coming back to the community once we get the actions that are required," Moda says.

The Yukon government says a formal report from structural engineers is still pending. The school was built in 2001 and like other buildings in the community it was built on permafrost.

The school has an enrolment of about 50 students in kindergarten to Grade 12, and it also houses the Yukon College campus in Ross River.