State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, on Wednesday released a statement after the Senate passed his plan, House Bill 4345, to forgive ice-storm-related school closures, protecting northern Michigan schools and students from mandatory summer school.

The legislation specifically addresses the 2024-2025 school year and would allow local school boards to waive up to an additional 15 days of instruction. The school district must be located, at least partially, within a county covered by a state of emergency declared by the governor. Those counties include Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle.

“People plan around the school calendar,” Cavitt said in the statement. “Districts have scheduled renovations, teachers have second jobs, and students have summer commitments – these things can’t just be put on pause while we extend the school year by a month. Forgiving these snow days ensures the ice-storm doesn’t throw a huge wrench into everyone’s summer.

“I’m grateful to Speaker Hall, Senate Majority Leader Brinks, and Gov. Whitmer for embracing bipartisanship and expediting the passage of my plan to ensure Northern Michigan students don’t lose half their summer vacation because of a once-in-a-generation ice storm.”