EAST LANSING, Mich. — As we prepare for an ice storm to hit mid-Michigan Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, local superintendents are preparing to decide whether or not to call another snow day.
For some school districts like East Lansing, they've already used up all of their six snow days forgiven by the state -- and it's only Feb. 5.
Now, if they have additional snow days, they'll have to fill out waivers with the state to forgive three more.
But East Lansing Superintendent Dori Leyko says the fact they've hit their limit doesn't affect the decisions she'll have to make for the rest of winter. If it's too dangerous to get to school by car, bus, or foot, school will be called.
While it can be a stressful decision to make, she has some great allies. Leyko stays in contact with the East Lansing city manager, who gives her up-to-the-minute information at 4 a.m. about the plows they have out on a day that could potentially be called. Leyko also talks with the 12 other superintendents in Ingham County to see what their areas are experiencing as well.
"We look at the current weather conditions, and the forecasted weather conditions," said Leyko. "We also look at the road conditions and whether or not the sidewalks are passable for kids; we have a lot of kids who walk to school. We take into account all of those factors."
It's still early in the winter season to be maxed out on snow days. If Michigan schools do go over their six forgiven days and the three they can get a waiver for, that's when they'll have to make up days in June.
FOX 47 News asked the Department of Education about the process, and they said that while it's up to the school to decide how they'll make those days up, the department prefers they add on full days, rather than extra minutes, to the final school days.
For any East Lansing students hoping to hear a snow day announcement from Leyko Tuesday night, you'll have to wait.
She says canceling school due to ice is much harder to call in advance, and no decision will be made until Wednesday morning. However, that decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. in an effort to give parents enough notice if they need to find last-minute childcare.
