State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, on Tuesday testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee in support of his plan to ensure schools aren’t pushed into mandatory summer school because of ice storm-related closures. Many Northern Michigan schools were forced to close for weeks due to impassable roads and power outages after the devastating ice storm in late March.

“We had a once-in-a-generation ice storm in Northern Michigan that put over 300,000 people out of power,” Cavitt said during committee testimony. “I was personally without power for eight days. People were not able to get out of their homes due to fallen trees and power lines. Some families still don’t have power. It’s been 20 days.”

Cavitt’s proposal, House Bill 4345, specifically addresses the 2024-2025 school year and would lift minimum school hour and day requirements for districts 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.

“This is a fair and practical solution to an extraordinary situation,” Cavitt said. “Right now, we just need to make sure our schools aren’t penalized because of this storm. This bill leaves the decision up to the local school districts to decide what’s best for their kids. There are only so many days left in the school year and our schools can’t afford us sitting on our hands. We need to act now and get this bill passed.”

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