In most places around Michigan and other areas of the country that get snow, too much of the white stuff can force schools to close for the day. Icy, windswept roads present a hazardous challenge for school buses and other vehicles, after all.
But on car-free Mackinac Island, ironically, lots of snow actually makes it easier for students and staff to get to school! As a result, Mackinac Island Public School hardly ever calls a snow day.
In fact, even with an average of 94 inches of snowfall each winter, snow days on Mackinac Island are few and far between. And when they happen, it’s usually for a reason other than snow on the roads.
“When other schools are closing down due to a heavy snowfall, we are typically excited to be able to use our snowmobiles to get to school more easily,” says Kelly Lipovsky, school superintendent. “Lots of snow actually brings an ease of life.”
Life on Mackinac Island in the winter
Why Mackinac Island Public School sometimes does close
That’s not to say that Mackinac Island Public School never calls a snow day. Although snow days are rare, they do happen from time to time due to a variety of reasons such as extremely gusty winds, for example, or extraordinarily icy conditions.
Sometimes a power outage or extreme cold can cause school on Mackinac Island to close for the day. Other times school – which only has about 70 students from kindergarten through high school – closes when a significant number of students are out sick.
But in most cases, if students in your local schools are home with a snow day, the students on Mackinac Island are up bright and early and zipping to class on their snowmobiles.
Going to school on Mackinac Island
Snowmobiles on Mackinac Island
Speaking of snowmobiles, here’s another fun fact about winter on Mackinac Island: The Meals on Wheels program that delivers food to homebound residents is actually a Meals on Snowmobiles program on Mackinac Island.
With food donated by the community and prepared by chef volunteers, Ste. Anne’s Catholic Church and students from Mackinac Island Public School team up to deliver hot meals by snowmobile to people who can’t leave their homes in the winter.
RELATED MACKINAC ISLAND BLOGS: