January 29, 2019
Dear Mesick Families,
I wanted to take a moment to update you regarding our school closure days. As of today, January 29, we have had eight days in which we have closed school for weather. The Michigan Department of Education allows for six days to be forgiven, in which they do not need to be made up. We are also allowed to apply for a waiver for up to three additional days to be forgiven. In the past we have applied and were granted the forgiveness for three additional days. I will be applying for these days again but we may not receive notice until the spring. I will inform you when we receive the official notice. Even when we hit the maximum number of days, we will still close for safety and make up needed days in June. Safety is our number one concern.
Please know that the decision to close school is one that is taken very seriously. Our transportation director and I drive the roads in the evening and the early morning. We discuss road conditions with neighboring superintendents and transportation directors as we often share many of the same roads.
The schools in the Wexford/Missaukee ISD have decided that we will close if the temperature is 20 below zero (-20), actual temperature and wind chill. There are many different measures we use for this as temperatures may vary from one side of the district to the other. Wind chill is also a difficult to measure, but please know that we do the best that we can. I understand that school closing can be difficult for families. Please know that safety is our number one concern. Decisions for athletic contests and practices are typically made by noon. Weather conditions can greatly improve throughout the day. All practices on school closure days are optional practices for our athletes.
In going forward, when conditions allow, we may start using 2-3 hour delays. We have not utilized this method in a number of years. However, I want you to be prepared and start planning for the possibility of a delay. We will only attempt to use a delay when we believe the delay will allow for us to attend school.
I hope that everyone is staying safe and warm.
Scott Akom – Mesick Consolidated Schools Superintendent