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January 20, 2026

GLPS Families:

I hope you are staying warm today! The forecast over the next week is for very cold temperatures, mixed with on-and-off snow, so we are in the thick of a Michigan winter. Given the expected weather, I thought this would be a good opportunity to provide some context for cold-related school closures, and share how we make decisions on days like today and days we expect to see over the next week or so.

Typically, if we are going to close for cold only, we need to see temperatures/windchills that are approaching 20 below zero. Once it gets that cold, the opportunity for frostbite increases, and it becomes unsafe for kids to wait for a bus. Those temperatures also may cause our buses to struggle to run properly, which increases the likelihood that a bus may break down or not start, which could create a safety issue for kids and staff if a bus gets stranded somewhere in the district. 

Some districts around us made the decision to close last night, but we waited until this morning to get a better sense of the temperature and road conditions closer to the start of school. The windchill was around 11 below when we were checking roads at 4:15 this morning, which was not cold enough for us to close for cold only. However, in many areas around the district, there was black ice covered by a thin layer of fine snow. The combination of the two of those factors, coupled with the fact that we were coming off a three-day weekend – over which the buses were not in use – caused us to err on the side of caution today. Cold buses, cold temperatures, and patchy slick spots are not a good combination!

We will be monitoring the temperatures all week, but given the forecast, unless something changes overnight, they are not forecasted to be cold enough tomorrow or Thursday to cancel school. However, Friday is a bit of a wildcard, as different models are predicting different temperatures. We will be watching for windchills in the high teens to the low 20’s below zero; if we hit those, we will call the day, and if not, we will hold school as normal. Either way, it is going to be cold this week, so please dress your children warmly for school, and if you have teenage drivers, remind them to watch for ice, drive carefully, and carry extra hats, gloves, and blankets in their cars, just in case.

I always appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate winter weather, and I think communication from me to you on these days is important for transparency and understanding of what goes into making the decisions. I know snow days can be fun and stressful at the same time, as families navigate an interruption to routines. Thank you for all you do, and always, feel free to reach out with questions or concerns. Have a great day; I am #proudtobeacomet!

Dr. Bill Barnes
Superintendent of Schools