LENAWEE COUNTY, Mich. — A winter storm is expected to hit much of Ohio and Michigan throughout the day Wednesday, and area superintendents and school districts have to decide whether to delay or cancel school.
Tecumseh Public Schools superintendent Rick Hilderley said his district considers multiple factors before canceling school.
Ohio can issue three levels of snow emergencies that schools can use to determine a snow day. But Michigan doesn't have that.
Hilderley said his district considers how likely it is for the storm to hit hard.
"We have been waiting to see if the watch was going to jump to a warning, and once it becomes a warning -- we're pretty much assured that this won't fall apart or deter south or north or something like that -- it's usually a final decision maker," Hilderley said.
Hilderley said that Lenawee County superintendents have been discussing the upcoming snowstorm for days. He also discusses severe weather with the district's transportation director, Ben Newsome.
"(Newsome's) perspective is from the school bus side: a 10-ton vehicle with a professional driver is one thing," Hilderley said. "I try to remember that we have 16 and 17-year-old kids in cars that don't have a lot of road experience in the winter so that's a heavy factor in the way that I make decisions."
For Tecumseh Public Schools, if there is a snow day, Hilderley said virtual learning won't be an option and classes will be completely canceled.
Stay updated on the latest area school closings and delays here.