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Schools have two additional snow days
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
School districts now have two additional excused snow days for the current school year.
On Wednesday, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 36, which takes effect immediately, meaning schools will have to make up fewer days after closing during winter storms.
“We’ll go back to five calamity days. We’ll give the school districts more options and, of course, student safety is a priority,” Kasich said. “But in addition to that, the great bottom line is more sled riding. I mean, that’s what we’re all about here.”
Kasich’s action capped weeks of discussions and legislative maneuvering on the snow-days bill and reversed yet another provision included in former Gov. Ted Strickland’s evidence-based, education-reform package.
Under Strickland, the number of days schools were allowed to close due to adverse weather without making them up at the end of the year was reduced to three from five.
Proponents said the change ensured teachers who were being paid for missing classes due to inclement weather would provide needed classroom instruction to students.
But by early this year, winter weather already had prompted many schools to close for more than the three days allowed, and some were concerned about the costs of making up the days at the end of the school year.
House Bill 36 increases the number of snow days to five and allows schools to make up unexcused calamity days by adding time to already-scheduled class sessions.
Kasich made it clear before taking the oath of office that he supported increasing the number of snow days, joking that his two daughters and other youngsters had lobbied for the change.
“It makes all the sense in the world,” Kasich said. “I have been for this all along.”