Northern Michigan schools hope state forgives days taken off for ice storm

NorthernMichiganschoolshopestateforgivesdaystakenoffforicestormNORTHERNMICHIGAN— ManyschoolsinNorthernMichiganshutteredtheirdoors,oropenedascommunitywarmingcenters,inthedaysandweeksfollowinghistoricanddestructiveicestormsintheregion. TheMarch29-30stormshitjustasmanystudentsweresettoreturntoclassfromspringbreak,butinsteadfoundthemselvesspendingseveralextradaysathomewhileroadswereclearedofstormdebrisandpowerrestorationeffortstookplace. Theearlyspringicestormcapsoffanalreadytumultuouswinterforschoolsinthearea,withmanyhittingorexceedingtheirquotaforsnowdays. InMichigan,schoolsareallowedtocanceluptosixdaysofclassforcircumstancesbeyondtheircontrol,whetherthatisduetoastorm,poweroutage,inadequateattendanceoranotherreason. Afterthesixdaysareusedup,districtscanrequestawaiverforthreeadditionaldays,whichhastobeapprovedbythestatesuperintendent. WithsomeschoolsinNorthernMichiganclosingfortwostraightweeksfollowingtheicestorms,ma