DETROIT – Hundreds of schools, including Detroit Public Schools, are closed Tuesday, and much of the reason is that many side streets remain covered in snow.
When snow falls, kids across the state cross their fingers and hope for a day full of things like sledding. But parents' opinions on having snow days differ.
"(It) gives you trouble finding a babysitter," said parent Jason Abdelnour.
"I happen to get to work from home," said parent Sarah Kramp. "I'm one of the lucky ones who can do that on snow days."
But making the call to cancel school is not something that's taken lightly.
School administrators said the decision-making process starts very early and involves gathering information about what's happening around the area.
The specific issue for Tuesday morning is road conditions. Many time schools are canceled because roads aren't safe for buses. They can also be hazardous for high schoolers who drive to work.
Extremely low temperatures that could make bus stop waits unsafe, as well as the amount of snow and ice on the roads, play a factor.
A decision about schedule changes is made as soon as possible so parents and teachers can be notified, with safety being paramount.
Detroit Public School's Central Office operations will remain open.