"I wish I could tell you it involved spoons under pillows or ice cubes in the toilet," said Jason Mellema, superintendent of the Ingham Intermediate School District, referencing the ways children try to manifest a snow day the night before school.

The state education department counted 1,800 fewer students in schools this year, with the sharpest declines affecting the youngest grades. The enrollment dips have serious consequences for every facet of school — from funding to staffing.

The district is also encouraging its teachers to discuss the Israel-Hamas war in their classrooms following an emotionally charged meeting Wednesday.

Avoidance of the situation is the most common response to bullying, which often amplifies the negative repercussions of the behavior.