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Posted: 02/27/13

SNOW DAYS. Above, a fire hydrant is nearly buried by snow on a street in Romeo. As of Observer print deadline, the Romeo Community Schools has used up five of its six alloted snow days, and may have to make up for lost time should it go over this winter. The National Weather Service's forecast called for six inches of snow for southeast Michigan on Feb. 26 and 27.

(Observer photo by Chris Gray)

RCS may extend school
year due to snow days

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Students and staff at Romeo Community Schools may need to attend classes a few extra days this school year.
       Due to inclement weather and hazardous road conditions, Romeo schools has already used up a majority of its snow days. As a result, the school year could be extended to make up for lost time.
       School officials said the district has a total of six inclement weather days to use. As of Feb. 22, the district had burned through five of its days due to snowstorms and dangerous roads.
       "We do it based on student safety and the buses being able to navigate the roads," said Superintendent Nancy Campbell.
       Campbell said the most recent closure on Feb. 19 came from the icy conditions of the roads in the district as opposed to snowy weather.
       "I had parents send me pictures of the roads, and they were ice skating rinks," Campbell said.
       Given there are still a few months left of winter, the district may use up its remaining day before the season ends.
       Should the district go over its given days, it will need to speak with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) about making up lost time at the end of the year. Campbell said the district will likely wait until later in the season to make the call to the state.
       "We don't know what we have ahead of us," Campbell said. "The next couple of months could be crazy."
       The National Weather Service predicted about six inches of snow to fall in southeast Michigan on Feb. 26 and into today, Feb. 27.
       The MDE has the ability to waive the need to make up for snow days, which Campbell said depends in part on how many hours they go over.
       When making the decision to shut down school, Campbell said transportation directors and superintendents in the area consult one another and determine whether the conditions are unsafe before making the call.
       "We try to make the decision by 5 a.m., because around that time the bus drivers need to get in from their own homes," she said.
       Along with the district-wide closures, two schools have had to shut down independently. On Oct. 30, Hamilton-Parsons Elementary closed due to a power outage, while Amanda Moore Elementary closed on Jan. 15 due to a water main break. These did not affect the allotted hours for the district.