LANSING (WWJ) - When school's out for summer could depend on what Lawmakers decide in Lansing.
WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports Michigan districts are struggling to figure out when the last day of class should be as they don' yet know if they'll have to make up four snow days that took place during a state-declared emergency.
Legislation approved by the Senate Tuesday would exclude school cancelations from January 29 through February 1, 2019 -- as a deep freeze gripped the state -- from counting as snow days; in effect forgiving many schools four of their snow days.
But there's a hangup, Skubick reported, Wednesday afternoon.
Senate Democrats, he explained, refused to give immediate effect to the proposal amid a dispute involving pay for hourly school workers.
"The Democtats said, OK, if you're not gonna do what we want we're not gonna give you this legislation," Skubick reported, "which means the districts are in jeopardy of not -- I repeat, not -- getting those four days back. They won't be happy."
While the issue is stalled for the moment, further talks are expected.
"This measures is now sort of pending in the House to see if the two sides can get their act together," Skubick said.
State law forgives districts from making up six days canceled for emergencies, looking at factors including below-zero wind chills, exceedingly deep snow, ice accumulation and poor road conditions. Schools can get a waiver for three additional days under existing law.
Due to some wild weather this past winter, many districts reached or exceeded nine snow days.