After March’s brutal ice storm, Rep. Cam Cavitt proposes a one-year reprieve from school day requirements to ease burdens on hard-hit communities.

Snow Day Forgiveness Bill Offers Relief for Storm-Impacted School Districts

LANSING, MI – State Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) has introduced House Bill 4345, a legislative plan that would give Northern Michigan schools a reprieve from state-mandated classroom time after one of the worst ice storms in recent memory left thousands without power and forced extended school closures.

The bill, introduced April 18, focuses exclusively on the 2024–2025 school year and would waive minimum instructional day and hour requirements for school districts in counties where a state of emergency was declared by the governor following the storm.

Cavitt’s plan is designed to ensure students and educators are not burdened with make-up days that could push the school year into July, long after standardized tests and the traditional academic calendar end.

“Our students just went through one of the most horrifying storms they will ever experience,” said Cavitt. “We need to take steps to help these kids and their families, not force them to sit in schools that lack air conditioning until July.”

Which Counties Would Qualify Under the Bill

The ice storm that struck Michigan’s northern counties in late March 2025 crippled infrastructure, downed power lines, and left roads impassable for days. The proposed legislation would apply to schools in the following state-declared emergency counties:

Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle

Many of these districts already experience high levels of snow-related closures, and the March storm only exacerbated an already compressed school calendar. In addition to time lost from snow days, many buildings were without power or heat, and some lacked internet access for remote learning alternatives.

Superintendents Back Cavitt’s Targeted Flexibility Plan

Katy Xenakis-Makowski, Superintendent of the Johannesburg-Lewiston School District and President of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators, expressed strong support for the bill.

“Montmorency County has the highest child poverty rate in the state of Michigan, and they were the last to get power restored,” Xenakis-Makowski said. “Adding additional days after assessments, after Memorial Day, going past Father’s Day and towards the Fourth of July will not help instruction.”

Instead, she emphasized the need to prioritize recovery and stability for students and families still reeling from storm-related trauma and disruption.

Her comments reflect the broader concerns of educators across Northern Michigan who say the academic benefits of adding more class days are outweighed by the physical and emotional toll on students and staff.

Educational Equity and Climate Emergencies Now Intertwined

As Michigan faces more frequent and extreme weather events, Cavitt’s proposal raises an important policy question: Should the state’s rigid instructional time requirements adapt in the face of localized crises?

Currently, Michigan law requires 1,098 instructional hours and 180 school days per year. While the Department of Education offers some leeway for snow days and other emergencies, superintendents argue that these allowances are insufficient when multi-week shutdowns occur.

HB 4345 would not change the rules statewide but instead create a narrow exemption for this school year and only for districts in counties officially declared disaster zones.

What’s Next for House Bill 4345?

The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee and is awaiting further action. With bipartisan support likely among legislators from affected areas, the proposal could gain traction as districts seek clarity on how to plan the end of their academic year.

Advocates hope the bill can be fast-tracked to provide timely relief to administrators already crafting contingency plans for June and beyond.

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