State Rep. Parker Fairbairn today thanked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as she signed his plan to forgive up to four additional days of school for districts that closed due to a mid-March winter storm. The March storm buried much of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in record-breaking snowfall, leading to rapid snowmelt that was compounded by significant rain later in the Spring. This placed significant strain on local communities and school districts. Many roads were impassable, and schools were forced to shut down for several days.

“Unpredictable and extreme winter weather across Northern Michigan and the U.P. this year created a problematic situation for schools that required quick action from lawmakers,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “I’m grateful to see the Governor sign the bill I sponsored to address this difficult situation, allowing local school boards a little leeway in managing their calendar after a second straight year of extreme weather.”

State law allows schools to miss and not have to make-up up to six days per year, which is typically sufficient for them to provide students with the instructional time needed to complete the curriculum and maintain their schedules. This year, however, without newly secured additional days, districts may have to extend their schedules further into the summer, impacting maintenance, building and other contracted work schedules, as well as the plans of the student’s families.

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