Senate OKs five snow days
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
A bill to increase the number of school snow days to five passed the Ohio Senate on Tuesday and should soon be heading to Gov. John Kasich for his expected signature.
House Bill 36 was approved 32-1 and heads back to the Ohio House for consideration of Senate amendments.
The legislation included an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect as soon as Kasich signs it so schools can use the days this school year.
As part of education reform passed under Gov. Ted Strickland, the number of days schools are allowed to close due to adverse weather without making them up at the end of the year was reduced this year to three.
The change was put into effect for the 2010-11 school year only; absent lawmaker action, districts would return to five calamity days in 2011-12.
But winter weather already has prompted many schools to close for more than the three days allowed, and some districts are concerned about the costs of making up the days.