Burkley, Hill Introduce Calamity Days Legislation

State Representatives Tony Burkley (R-Payne) and Brian Hill (R-Zanesville) have announced that they are introducing legislation to increase the number of calamity days that school districts are allocated for the 2013-2014 school year.

Schools are currently allotted five calamity days for the year, with school districts making up calamity days beyond the fifth. The legislation introduced by Representatives Burkley and Hill would allow four additional calamity days, bringing the total number of days to nine for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year.

“Approximately a third of the state’s school districts have already used five or more calamity days, and the winter is far from over. One of my districts is approaching ten calamity days,” Rep. Burkley said. “I credit my constituents for bringing this issue to my attention.”

“The recent cold, snow and ice have put Ohio schools at a necessary stand-still in order to keep our kids safe,” Rep. Hill said. “I’m confident that those at the local level can be trusted to adapt to the change in calamity days and ensure that students are taught the needed curriculum they will need to succeed before the end of the school year.”

With the passage of House Bill 59, the state operating budget, schools will be switching from a measurement of days to hours starting with the 2014-2015 school year.

The legislation was filed with the House clerk’s office and will receive a bill number tomorrow.