COLUMBUS, Ohio – A compromise measure giving Ohio schools four extra calamity days is headed to Gov. John Kasich’s desk for his expected signature.
Kasich was one of the earliest advocate for granting schools extra snow days because of the severe winter. Passage of the agreement by the House and Senate Wednesday came as snow fell outside the Statehouse.
Snow, ice and bone-chilling temperatures have led many districts across Ohio to exhaust the school year’s five allowable calamity days, in which schools can close without making up the lost instructional time.
The measure would let districts use the additional calamity days only after holding school on four other scheduled days off, such as holidays or during vacations.
Districts could continue to make up missed days through 30-minute increments tacked onto regularly scheduled school days. They also would have the option of using online lessons or work-at-home “blizzard bags,” packages of assignments that students must complete at home in order to account for a missed school day.