CLAY TOWNSHIP -- Debbie Meldrum keeps her eyes straight ahead when she waits to get on the ferry to Harsens Island.

She rides the ferry several times a day, driving the school bus that takes about 60 middle and high school pupils from the island to the mainland schools and back.

Meldrum avoids looking at other drivers not only because her bus takes up three car spaces on the ferry, but she gets precedence over other vehicles waiting in line to ensure her pupils make it to school on time.

This spring, district officials have held their breaths in the mornings, hoping island pupils make it to school.

This year, there's been a lot of ice.

Ralph Hilchie, an ice service specialist working for Environment Canada's Ice Centre, said the ice in Lake Huron this year is "way above normal conditions."

He is monitoring the lake and river ice floes from the Canadian side.

U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Mackinaw has made several trips up and down the river as part of this winter's operations.

Island pupils already missed school once -- March 10 -- because of the ice. School officials expect pupils will have to miss more.

On March 19, the ferry from Champion's Auto Ferry Inc. took an oval-shaped route across the river, trying to dodge larger patches of ice.

Twice this winter, island pupils have left school early after ferry owners warned the boat was having difficulty navigating through ice.

In case they are stranded on the mainland, island pupils have an official buddy's house they can stay the night.

Allen and Andrew Kernoghan, who are in eighth and sixth grades, respectively, at Algonquin Middle School, are among those who will stay at friends' houses if they're stranded.

"I want the ice to be jammed so we won't have school," Allen said.

Meanwhile, Meldrum continues her daily drives to and from the island.

"I like the beauty of this run," Meldrum said. "It's different every day."

Contact Hannah Newton at (810) 989-6277 or hnewton@ porthuro.gannett.com.