Advertisement

Lauren Murphy, coordinator of communications for Lapeer Community Schools, said as of Monday the district has used seven snow days. Due to power outages, the elementary schools of Elba, Hadley, Maple Grove and Murphy have had eight days off.

Nearly half of the Lapeer Community Schools 65-bus fleet wouldn't start Monday, Brenda Wells, transportation coordinator said. "That's why we called school at 6:30 a.m. We got them all started at 1 p.m.," she said. "We add an additive to them because the diesel fuel gels when they go down the road."

Murphy said district officials have not decided when and how the missed days will be made up in the district.

Imlay City Community Schools Superintendent Gary Richards explained districts are allotted 30 hours — five snow days by the state. "We've had five snow days, so we're out of snow days. If we have to call another snow day we may have to extend the year," he said and added safety is always a main issue in calling a snow day.

Richards said his district's transportation personnel came in early Monday to start the buses and they ran with no problem.

If the Dryden Schools have one more snow day, Superintendent Tom Goulette said calculations will need to be made in the spring. He added the school district already has had five snow days.

"We're in a make-up situation," said Almont Community Schools Superintendent Steve Zott. "Budget-wise, it's not a huge money make-up to make-up days. From my standpoint, when you talk make-up I'd rather it be in February than June because it's more productive. Nobody likes make-ups when it's June days."

After talking to teacher group representatives, the Almont district will probably tack the extra time on to the end of the year to be made up, Zott said.

On Monday, school was in session in the Imlay City, Dryden, and Almont school districts.

Like Lapeer, North Branch Area Schools also had problems starting its bus fleet Monday, and shut the district down for another day.

To date this winter, North Branch has had seven snow days and will need to schedule make-up days to get back the time lost due to weather and mechanical conditions. Normally off for Presidents' Day (Feb. 18), district students will be in class that day as a make-up day.

Jennifer Decker may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.