School districts that in many cases already have used up their five calamity days for the year with several weeks of winter yet to come could be in line for some relief from the state.
Gov. John Kasich on Monday urged the Ohio General Assembly and Ohio Department of Education to work together on legislation that would provide a one-time increase in the number of days that schools can take off because of snow or bad weather.
“School closures can, of course, be an inconvenience but student safety always comes first,” Kasich said in a statement. “Many schools have already hit the maximum number of snow days, or will soon, and if they exceed it and have to extend the school year it can wreak havoc with schools budgets and schedules.
“Giving schools a few extra snow days this year will be helpful and let everyone stay focused on the top priority when weather hits, keeping kids safe.”
Many Ohio school districts around Ohio have already used up their five calamity days, said John Charlton, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education. Some already are resorting to using “blizzard bags,” a measure that allows districts to make schoolwork available online to students (or be sent home if online access is unavailable) as a means of making up some days.
Bitterly cold temperatures this month have forced closures all across the state as wind chills dropped to dangerously low levels. School districts, fearing for student safety, closed for multiple days early in January.
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