This article won honorable mention in the 2020 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
For many, the countdown to the end of the school year has already begun. But, it seems there may be yet another change to many school calendars in Michigan.
After January’s polar vortex, many schools racked up a total of cancellation days well into the double digits. Northview, among many others, has 13 of these days.
On Monday, Jan. 28, Governor Gretchen Whitmer called a State of Emergency to go into effect the next day. It lasted until Saturday, Feb. 2.
Recently, House Bill 4206 has moved through the ranks and become (almost) a reality for students across Michigan. The goal of the bill is to forgive the four snow days that were called during the State of Emergency (Jan. 29-Feb. 1).
After passing the House with a vote of 101-3 and the Senate with a unanimous vote, the wait begins for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s expected signature. With this signature, schools will be granted an additional four forgiven days. These add to the six free days everyone gets as well as the three from a waiver that Northview applied for and received. This gives Michigan schools a total of 13 forgiven days.
For schools with 13 snow days or fewer, one of which is Northview, they will not have to make up more days than the original school calendar planned.
For schools who had 14 snow days or more, this legislation also allows them to dismiss the 180 instructional-day requirement set by the state. They will only have to meet the 1,098 minute requirement by adding more minutes on to days scheduled. To do this, they can add minutes on in 30-minute increments.
When presumably Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs this bill, the school year will end on the originally planned for schedule, June 7.
