TRAVERSE CITY- Traverse City Area Public Schools has reached its maximum of six automatic snow days this winter, and with more winter weather potentially on the horizon, the district may need to seek additional days from the state.
TCAPS Superintendent John VanWagoner said the district never factors the snow day count into its cancellation decisions. The only consideration is whether roads are safe enough for school buses to travel.
“It’s just simply a question of, are the roads safe enough that we can get kids to school?” VanWagoner said.
He said snow days are not a casual decision, noting that many students depend on school for basic needs, including breakfast and lunch.
VanWagoner said the district is currently at its six-day limit but has the option to request up to three additional waiver days from the state superintendent.
If the district needs to make up days, he said, that’s a price worth paying.
“We’re not ever going to look at the number and use that as any kind of determining factor,” VanWagoner said. “Student and staff and parent safety” always comes first.