MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With a seven hour school day and five days currently missed from the most recent record temperatures and snow, Haslett Middle School has only more day left of allotted time before exceeding the state’s requirements.

Schools were cancelled due to the safety risk on the roads as well as the extremely cold temperatures, resulting in dangerous wind-chill. County Superintendents for the education system have agreed that any time the wind-chill or actual temperature is negative-twenty degrees or lower, then schools will be closed.

The state allows districts to have six days annually that can be missed due to snow, cold, power outages, etc. Once a school exceeds those six days, they will be required to make up that lost time.

Principal of Haslett Middle School, Andy Pridgeon, says this has been the most school days ever missed during his nine-year tenure at Haslett Middle School.

Pridgeon said that according to procedures last year, he believes districts are able to either add minutes to existing school days, or add days to their school calendar. The primary option is the adding of days rather than the addition of minutes. Such arrangements are discussed with the central offices among the designated schools and well as the superintendent and school board.

“We definitely have to look at our curriculum and look at where we are in the marking period and look at where we are in the school year to see what adjustments we need to make if any are needed,” Pridgeon said.

Haslett Middle School had one snow day prior to their two-week holiday vacation and many days following after their break. Pridgeon said he had some kids get in touch with him and say, “Mr. P, we’re ready to go back to school!”

Pridgeon has explained the reality to the children that if they exceed those days missed; it will have to be made up. He says the children would rather get the minutes in rather than adding any extra days.

The State of Michigan requires 1,098 hours and a minimum of 175 days of instruction with students on an annual basis. The six days allowed to miss are calculated into that time. State funding is tied to these hours of instruction, so if the proper hours are not met, as a consequence, there will need to be made time.

“It’s very important that we do reach the 1,098 hours and we do reach the number of days and minutes that we need to with our students,” Pridgeon said. He believes if Haslett Middle School does exceed their six allotted days, then any days lost would be added to their end of the year calendar.