As snow days pile up, Ottawa County school districts might need state approval for more
School districts throughout Ottawa County are exhausting their annual allotment of "snow days" following a series of winter storms in January, forcing administrators to consider extending the academic year into mid-June.
GRAND HAVEN — School districts throughout Ottawa County are exhausting their annual allotment of "snow days" following a series of winter storms in January, forcing administrators to consider extending the academic year into mid-June.
Under the State School Aid Act, Michigan districts are granted six days of "forgiven" time for conditions beyond their control, such as hazardous weather or power outages. As of Feb. 2, Grand Haven Area Public Schools recorded seven cancellations, while West Ottawa Public Schools had reached the six-day limit.
The pressure on local calendars is intensified by a recent legislative shift. On Oct. 7, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act 15, which repealed a provision allowing schools to use up to 15 days of virtual instruction in place of in-person classes during emergencies. Without the remote learning option, any closure beyond state-approved limits must be made up with physical instructional days.
"We will plan to apply for a waiver if necessary, but we will wait until the winter has played itself out before taking any action," said Allendale Public Schools Superintendent Garth Cooper. Allendale currently sits between four and five snow days.
Districts that exceed the initial six-day threshold may petition the Michigan Department of Education for a waiver for up to three additional days. These waivers are typically reserved for winters deemed exceptionally severe by the state superintendent. If a district surpasses nine total days, the lost time is generally added to the end of the school year.
Coopersville Public Schools Superintendent Matt Spencer shared a letter with parents on Jan. 27, saying the district is at seven snow days and the process to apply for a waiver for three additional snow days had begun.
Leaders are also considering extending some existing school days or adding days to the year to make up time, WZZM reported.
"Obviously, our preference is to be in school. On occasion, our region in Michigan experiences more severe winters than in previous years," Spencer said. "This year has proven to fit that reality. I will remain committed to student safety and will continue to communicate with all of you as information becomes available."
In Hudsonville, where five days have been used, officials have not yet determined whether they will seek a waiver.
Superintendent Brandon Graham of Jenison Public Schools, which has used four days, confirmed his district would apply for state relief if it exceeds the six-day cap.
Current schedules for most Ottawa County districts have the final day of school set for June 5, 2026. However, for districts like Grand Haven that have already moved beyond the initial six days, that date is subject to change based on the state’s decision on waiver applications.
"While our preference is always to have students in school as scheduled, we are committed to the safety of our students and staff," GHAPS officials said in a statement. "That remains our top priority during times when winter weather impacts road conditions."
State law requires a minimum of 180 days and 1,098 hours of pupil instruction. Public Act 15 also mandates that instructional time compliance now rely on specific sections of the law regarding forgiven hours or professional development, rather than the broad virtual flexibility used in previous years.
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There is at least one example in recent history when schools exceeded the nine days after exhausting the additional three days allowed by waivers.
In early 2019, a polar vortex settled over West Michigan, creating extreme, record-breaking cold and heavy snowfall in late January and early February. Those conditions forced schools to cancel classes for most of that week, leading Whitmer to declare a state of emergency.
Many school districts in West Michigan, such as Ionia, where wind chills were as low as -34 degrees, reported up to 18 to 20 cancellations, far exceeding the state's standard allowance of six, after a burst pipe forced additional closure time.
The scenario forced the Michigan Legislature to act and create legislation in May 2019 — before the academic year ended — saying state schools didn’t have to make up as many as four snow days that occurred that year.
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Sarah Leach is the executive editor of the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at sleach@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Follow her on Twitter @ONNLeach.
