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December 12, 2024
GLPS Families,
Well, it is winter again, which means another snow day today! I know the call was late this morning, and I apologize for that, but the weather changed while we were out driving the roads. At a little before 4:00 am, most roads were relatively clear, and we were planning to stay open. However, somewhere between 4:00 am and a little after 5:00 am, the snow and wind picked up and the temperatures dropped, and many of the roads that were previously okay iced up quickly, especially south of Grand Ledge. With the extension of the winter weather advisory, and the potential for continued blowing throughout the morning, we decided that we did not want to put our buses, drivers, and students in an unsafe situation. This prompted us to make the late call, and I appreciate the GLPS team’s due diligence in ensuring that we were making the right decision, even though we made it after 5:00. We usually try to make the call before 5:00 am, but given the sequence of events today, had we not waited the extra 15 minutes, we would have created an issue for our buses, kids, and families on the roads.
As for the decision to keep Adventure Club and Little Comets open, we felt that the salt and wind protection on the in-town roads would make for a safe drop-off and pick-up situation for those families who were able to transport their kids to the buildings. Therefore, we were able to still offer those services today, and I appreciate our staff’s diligence in not only getting in to run the programs, but also to have the drives and sidewalks salted and ready to go.
Just as I mentioned last week, we have been monitoring the conditions throughout the morning, and given the fact that there is no more snow forecasted for today and the wind has lessened significantly, we have decided that, where feasible, evening activities can move forward from a safety perspective. We will coordinate with the leaders of our evening activities, including arts, athletics, and community events, to make individualized decisions, based on the needs of the program and the ability to effectively host the event. Therefore, if you had an evening activity planned for today, the leader of the program will provide you with the details regarding whether or not the event will continue as planned.
As always, I like to offer an explanation about why we make the decisions we do, because my decision on snow days affects your students, your family, and your day. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. Stay warm out there, and have a great day!
Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools
