LANSING — The Michigan House unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to excuse up to 15 school days for districts impacted by March’s ice storms, which left hundreds of thousands without power and schools closed for days.
Any district in a county that had an emergency declaration in that time would be allowed to exempt themselves from school hour requirements.
That means schools would be able to end the year on their normal schedule without the rick of losing state funding.
The bill — HB 4345 — was introduced by State Rep. Cam Cavitt and passed with support from all 110 state representatives.
“This bill gives local school boards the power to decide whether to waive missing days or extend the school year,” said Cavitt, (R) District 106, Cheboygan. “Parents are calling my office day and night, anxious to know when school could be out.”
Lawmakers are optimistic the plan could go into law by next month — the proposal now goes to the state Senate, which must wait at least five days to consider the bill.