It's Official: School Calamity Days Back to 5

Gov. John Kasich today signed legislation restoring the number of school calamity days to five, meaning no Strongsville students will be in classes past June 9.

Pupils at Drake Elementary were in line to make up two days of school because that building was closed twice when other Strongsville schools were open -- once in the fall because of electrical problems and in February due to flooding.

But Kasich signed House Bill 36, which increases the number of calamity days from three to five. The measure also gives schools the flexibility to make up snow days by lengthening remaining school days in the 2010-2011 school year by 30- minute increments. 

Former Gov. Ted Strickland cut the number of calamity days to three this school year, which were quickly used up by districts throughout the state because of harsh winter weather.

State legislators have voted to add two more calamity days this school year. 

"Living in Northeast Ohio, with the challenges the weather brings, I'd say they're headed in the right direction," Lampert told Strongsville Patch recently

Strongsville schools were actually closed four days this winter because of bad weather, but the district had included one extra day in the school calendar this year, meaning students attended classes the required number of days and would not have to make any up in the summer.

The only exception was , which was closed twice when other schools were not.

If the legislation had not been passed, Drake students were scheduled to have school on Friday, June 10 and Monday, June 13.

Kasich, in a press release, said, "We’ll go back to five calamity days, we’ll give the schools districts more options, and of course student safety is a priority . . . but in addition to that, the great bottom line is more sled riding.”