The Gladiator Gazette 2.19.25
February 19, 2025
As winter weather continues to impact Michigan, school closures have become a common reality for most districts including Fowlerville Community Schools. While student and staff safety remains our top priority, we also recognize the importance of maintaining instructional time to ensure a high-quality education for our students.
For the 2024-2025 school year, Fowlerville’s calendar includes 182 instructional days (two more than the state-required minimum of 180 days and 1,098 hours of instruction). Michigan law allows districts up to six forgiven days for weather-related or emergency closures. So far, we have canceled school eight days for grades K-5 and seven days for grades 6-12.
This means we have exceeded the state’s allotted forgiveness days at the elementary level leaving us with no remaining forgiven days for grades K-5 and just one remaining day for grades 6-12. The discrepancy is due to a power outage on August 28, 2024, which forced us to close school for elementary students on the south end of campus while secondary buildings on the north end remained open.
If additional closures are necessary and we fall below the state’s required instructional days or hours, we will apply for a state waiver for up to three additional forgiveness days. However, it is important to note that waiver approval is not guaranteed.
How We Decide Weather-Related Closures - Each time inclement weather threatens the school day, we conduct a thorough assessment before making a closure decision. Factors we consider include:
Road and Sidewalk Conditions – Ice, snow accumulation, and drifting can create hazardous conditions for buses, student drivers, walkers and staff.
Extreme Temperatures – Wind chills that pose a risk to student safety are taken into account.
Rural and Dirt Road Accessibility – Many of our district’s roads become difficult to navigate in snow and ice.
To ensure an informed decision, we collaborate with neighboring district superintendents and transportation directors, consult the Livingston County Road Commission and closely monitor weather forecasts. Before a final decision is made, district administrators and transportation staff drive local roads early in the morning to evaluate conditions firsthand.
Timing of Closure Announcements - We understand that school closures disrupt daily routines and require families to make alternative arrangements. Our goal is to notify families as early as possible, but rapidly changing weather conditions can make this challenging. While we consider what surrounding districts decide, our final determination is based on what is best for Fowlerville Community Schools.
Our commitment is to balance student safety with the need to provide meaningful learning opportunities. We appreciate the support and understanding of our families, staff and community as we navigate the winter months. For updates on school closures and district announcements, please visit our website or follow us on social media.
Bullying is defined as any written, verbal, physical act or electronic communication intended to harm students. The behavior must be severe, persistent or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment or interfere with a student's educational opportunities. The Matt Epling Safe School Law, enacted in 2011, requires all Michigan school districts to adopt and enforce an anti-bullying policy.
Fowlerville Community Schools is committed to provide regular training on bullying prevention for staff and students to foster awareness of this problem. Once a report of bullying is made, we will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation. For cases with criminal behavior or safety threats, we will collaborate with local law enforcement.
Please encourage your students to report any form of bullying to a teacher, administrator or through the OK2SAY program which allows students to confidentially report bullying or other safety concerns. Parents are also encouraged to notify building administrators of any concerns they have. We want Fowlerville Community Schools to be a place where students can learn in an environment in which they feel safe each day.
Fowlerville Community Schools continues to make steady progress on bond projects across the district ensuring our facilities are modern, safe and well-equipped for students and staff.
At Fowlerville Elementary, work is nearing completion with the final punch list items being addressed. Additional site work is scheduled for the spring to complete this phase of the project.
At Smith, improvements are underway. Plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits have been secured, and equipment deliveries remain on schedule. Current work includes demolition in certain areas, unit ventilator coil installation, receptacle replacement, new doors in various locations and roof repairs with these projects continuing into spring and summer. The Board recently approved landscaping and concrete work for Smith.
The Little Glads and Recreation programs will transition from Munn to Smith once light renovations and HVAC upgrades are completed. Maintaining Munn was determined to be too costly, and it will be demolished after the transition. Once complete, the Smith gymnasium will be available for evening and weekend use ensuring continued access for community activities.
Looking ahead, HVAC and air conditioning upgrades at the High School, Junior High, Kreeger and Smith are progressing as planned. Work at the High School will begin over Spring Break, while projects at the Junior High and Kreeger will start this summer. Air conditioning installation at Smith is already underway.
Additionally, bids for new playground equipment that meet age requirements for Little Glads have been received, and post-bid evaluations are underway. Recommendations will be presented to the Asset Management Committee in March followed by the full Board later in the month.
Finally, Auch and iDs, our construction partners, are working with the district on the pole barn request for proposal (RFP) which was recently issued. This project, funded primarily through state grants, will be another step toward completing our Career and Technical Education (CTE) courtyard behind the high school cafeteria.
These projects are making a lasting impact on the district and enhancing learning environments while ensuring our facilities meet the needs of students, staff and the community for years to come. All remaining bond projects are on schedule, and all planned work from the 2021 bond remains on budget. We appreciate your support as we move forward with these important improvements.
For continued updates, visit our district website or follow us on social media.
- Jill Thomas - Fowlerville VFW Teacher of the Year
- Michelle Spisz - Smart/Maher VFW National Citizen Education Teacher Award
- Kyle Thiel (Junior High Student) - VFW Patriot's Pen Winner
- Alyssa Seiter (Freshman at FHS) - Fowlerville VFW Voice of Democracy Essay Content Winner
Thank you to the VFW for these awards!
The Fowlerville High School wrestling team won the regional championship on February 12 and will advance to the state quarter finals on Friday, February 21 in Kalamazoo. The team defeated Mason 36-34 to advance.
A total of 20 Fowlerville wresters (13 boys and 7 girls) also advanced out of the individual districts. This was the highest number of combined wrestlers in the state for one school. They participated in regionals this past weekend, and 16 (9 boys and 7 girls) have advanced to state competition.
Fowlerville High School is excited to host the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) boys basketball district tournament the week of February 24, 2025. Boys district games will be played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The girls basketball team will finish up their regular season with two home games on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Alverson Center for Performing Arts will be hosting a fundraiser as part of March is Reading Month to replace the curtains in the Center. The Lorax Movie will be shown on Saturday, March 8, from 2:00-4:00 pm at the Alverson Center for Performing Arts. Cost is $3 per person and popcorn and water will be available for purchase. To support encouraging reading, the book bus will also be in attendance.
