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Lawmakers should answer snow day questions

Alpena Public Schools Superintendent John VanWagoner doesn’t need any distractions right now.

He is focused on Tuesday’s bond request for the district, and is making last-minute appearances to any group that will offer him a 10-minute platform. And, trust us, he has made many, many of those meetings thus far.

But then came a snow job, courtesy of the state Legislature. And, while the minutes tick down toward Tuesday’s vote, VanWagoner finds himself answering questions about whether or not the state is going to forgive four school days canceled during a snow emergency called during the polar vortex in Michigan early this year.

He’d be the first to share with you that your guess is as good as his.

While both the state House and state Senate have passed slightly similar versions of bills designed to give school districts credit for the days, thus not making students and teachers make them up, a hangup over pay to non-teaching staff has derailed the legislative process. Unless that issue can be resolved, it appears the legislation has as much chance of passing as a snowman has of not melting in July.

In the meantime, parents and students want to know how long into June their school year is going to last. Unfortunately, VanWagoner and other superintendents still don’t know.

There is a chance (maybe a snowball’s chance) that the issue still can be resolved this week.

Then again, who knows?

In the meantime, VanWagoner is off to sit down with another group of interested voters.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)

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