A bill allowing schools to waive three more snow days is now before the state House after being passed up the chain by the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. Those are the three days during the state of emergency declared by Governor Whitmer due to extreme cold at the end of January. Committee Chair Brandt Iden of Kalamazoo County says they had to act if they are going to get this to the governor’s desk in time for the districts to change their calendars.
“We recognize the time-sensitive nature of this legislation,” says Iden.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says he is on board, but only for the three days that were called off during the state of emergency.
“But not the rest of the days. Our kids need as many days as they can get in classrooms,” said Shirkey.
The bill would allow districts to waive up to 12 days. But many school districts have called more than a dozen snow days and will still have to find ways to make up the time.
