All schools in the Grand Rapids Public School district closed due to the extreme heat on Tuesday, Aug. 27, as there was a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. across the majority of southern Michigan. According to MLive, the heat index was expected to hit 105 degrees or higher in parts of the state. With public schools cancelling classes due to hot weather, many GVSU students wondered if the University would follow suit.
Katrina Wrzesinski, a second-year student at Grand Valley State University recalled the conditions walking to class.
“In the morning, it was fine because it was a little cool,” Wrzesinski. “But when walking back from lunch, it was really hot and muggy.”
GVSU’s Cancellation/Closure/Remote policy outlines the factors considered for the University to take action for weather-related reasons. The four standards are the ability of the University’s road crews to keep campus roads and parking lots cleared, the conditions of primary and secondary roads in the area, weather reports regarding the track of the storm and other conditions and the anticipated length of time the weather would impact campus operations.
Gregory Sanial, the vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer at GVSU, confirmed the University considers heat as extreme weather. He said that, ultimately, canceling classes due to heat, “depends on the totality of the forecasted conditions and operating availability of our facilities.”
“All factors are considered in any operating status change decision,” Sanial said. “Grandville Public K-12 schools closed because of the combination of heat and limited air conditioning. Having air conditioning available helps.”
Sanial iterated that GVSU did not end up cancelling school because most buildings on campus have central air conditioning, unlike Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Lack of air conditioning was one of the main factors that caused schools in West Michigan to close or switch to half days. In addition to Grand Rapids Public Schools, Greenville Public Schools and Ionia Public Schools also closed, according to MLive. A few private and charter schools in Kent County also closed, including Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center, Immaculate Heart of Mary and New Branches Charter Academy. School districts such as those in Hudsonville, Portage and Comstock had half-days for the extreme weather.
The closures to area schools impacted many in the GVSU community. Sherry Johnson, a professor within the Department of English, was one of many professors and University staff that had to bring her child with her to class on Tuesday, as her son’s school was one of many that closed. Johnson said bearing the responsibilities of having a career and being a caregiver are sometimes a struggle to balance, especially with school cancellations.
“One of the ways that the school closures affect caregivers who work outside of the home is that they must find alternative arrangements for their students,” Johnson said. “If childcare is unavailable on short notice, then caregivers are forced to look for other options. One must remain ever-agile in meeting their responsibilities at work and home.”
Johnson was thankful that even though her son did not experience his typical school day, he still was able to learn by being in a classroom at GVSU.
“Fortunately, my son does enjoy sitting in the college classroom,” said Johnson. “For some reason, he feels quite comfortable to join in class discussions, without having done the reading. The exposure is great for him. This is one pro of the disruption that school closures at the elementary level causes. It also shows the privilege my work affords me, as I am able to bring my elementary student to work with me.”
As August ends and September begins, Michiganders prepare for fall weather and leave humidity behind. Instead of heat waves, soon snow will be the reason schools close.
