Reps. Kozlowski and Carey Introduce Calamity Days Bill
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State Representatives Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) and John Carey (R-Wellston) recently introduced legislation that, when enacted, would increase the number of calamity days that school districts are allocated each year.
In the past, the first five calamity days of each school year were excused and school districts made up calamity days beyond the fifth. As a result of an amendment to House Bill 1 during the 128th General Assembly, only three calamity days are now excused beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, and many districts have already used all available calamity days because of recent snow storms.
To resolve this issue, House Bill 36 will restore the number of excusable calamity days to five, which would take effect immediately and allow two additional calamity days for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. It will also allow schools the flexibility to make up calamity days by lengthening the school day in 30-minute increments.
"With Ohio's ever-changing weather and thousands of miles of rural routes, our local school superintendents and transportation directors should have the power to decide whether to hold classes during the winter," said Rep. Kozlowski, who previously served as president of the Pymatuning Valley Board of Education. "House Bill 36 gives local school districts another tool for their toolboxes as they decide for themselves which method of dealing with calamity days works best for them."
"We should not be putting Ohio's children at risk by forcing them to travel in dangerous conditions, and the state should certainly not be mandating to the local officials," said Rep. Carey. "I hope that this legislation will move quickly through the Legislature as we face yet another blustery Ohio winter."
House Bill 36 will now be referred to a House committee, where it will undergo further debate and deliberation.[[In-content Ad]]
In the past, the first five calamity days of each school year were excused and school districts made up calamity days beyond the fifth. As a result of an amendment to House Bill 1 during the 128th General Assembly, only three calamity days are now excused beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, and many districts have already used all available calamity days because of recent snow storms.
To resolve this issue, House Bill 36 will restore the number of excusable calamity days to five, which would take effect immediately and allow two additional calamity days for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. It will also allow schools the flexibility to make up calamity days by lengthening the school day in 30-minute increments.
"With Ohio's ever-changing weather and thousands of miles of rural routes, our local school superintendents and transportation directors should have the power to decide whether to hold classes during the winter," said Rep. Kozlowski, who previously served as president of the Pymatuning Valley Board of Education. "House Bill 36 gives local school districts another tool for their toolboxes as they decide for themselves which method of dealing with calamity days works best for them."
"We should not be putting Ohio's children at risk by forcing them to travel in dangerous conditions, and the state should certainly not be mandating to the local officials," said Rep. Carey. "I hope that this legislation will move quickly through the Legislature as we face yet another blustery Ohio winter."
House Bill 36 will now be referred to a House committee, where it will undergo further debate and deliberation.[[In-content Ad]]