School districts prepare for snowy weather on count day GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- With snow often comes school closings. But Wednesday, February 10, 2010 is count day. It is one of two days each year when districts use attendance numbers to determine a portion of state funding.  However school leaders say they can't let count day influence weather decisions. Grand Rapids Public Schools Spokesperson John Helmholdt says, "Safety comes first. The count day, we can do it the next day. We have a buffer built in to count those students. Superintendent Kevin O'Neill of Coopersville says, "There's really only one consideration. That's whether we can get the kids too school and home from school safely." In an urban district like Grand Rapids,... Former GRPS superintendent says closing schools inevitable (WZZM) - Leaders of the Grand Rapids Public Schools say they have not decided exactly which ones, but say they must close some school buildings. "Can we afford to keep all of our schools open?" school board vice president Senita Lenear asked parents at a Monday night forum. "Unfortunately, the answer is no," she said, answering her own question. The forum in the Central HIgh School Auditorium was scheduled to outline the district's situation, and help the community understand the crisis. Administrators said declining enrollment and steady cuts in the per pupil grant from the state have them facing a $9 million deficit next year. Closing schools is part of...