Wzzm School Closings – School districts prepare for snowy weather on count day
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- With snow often comes school closings. But Wednesday, February 10, 2010 is count day. It is one of two days each year when districts use attendance numbers to determine a portion of state funding.
However school leaders say they can’t let count day influence weather decisions. Grand Rapids Public Schools Spokesperson John Helmholdt says, “Safety comes first. The count day, we can do it the next day. We have a buffer built in to count those students. Superintendent Kevin O’Neill of Coopersville says, “There’s really only one consideration. That’s whether we can get the kids too school and home from school safely.”
In an urban district like Grand Rapids, the plows sometimes have an advantage over the snow. Helmholdt says, “If the Rapid’s moving, if the side streets are clear enough to get through, it’s more likely that we would stay open.”
While in a rural district like Coopersville, the snow sometimes comes out on top. O’Neill says, “A lot of times, if our main roads are passable, it doesn’t mean our back roads are passable. Our busses can get through a lot. But, we err on the side of safety. … Our roads do drift over a lot more easily. There’s a lot of square miles. About 60 percent of our roads are still gravel roads.”
The State of Michigan is making it easier for Superintendents to focus on the weather this count day. O’Neill explains, “If we have inclement weather we can get a waiver. And the state has already issued a waiver statewide for tomorrow in case there’s bad weather. Count day would be the next open day.”
If school is in session but your child stays home due to illness or another reason, you can call in an excused absence. This will allow the district to still receive the state funding, as long as the child is in school on following days.
