By Mike

December 10, 2010 12:12 AM | Link to this

Lovely, another reason why I ‘love’ the state… Those guys down in Columbus know that that Snow days are the rough equivalent to a personal day for a Student…

By Melanie Fresch

December 7, 2010 8:43 AM | Link to this

Well it may make superintendents more hesitant but what it is doing today is make my children have a 2 hour delay in weather that isnt letting up or going to until later tonight so they will still have to go to school on a bus in very dangerous road conditions. THANK YOU government for thinking of my childrens safety!!!

By wow

December 5, 2010 5:12 PM | Link to this

Yes, we all realize that taking away snow days doesn’t mean that schools can’t cancel because of bad weather, but what it will do is make superintendents more hesitant to cancel because of bad weather. When school days get canceled, the classes do end up catching up to where they’re supposed to be. Honestly, taking away snow days isn’t going to help anything.

By Mother223

November 6, 2010 8:31 PM | Link to this

The facts are this. Ohio will still have the same amount of BAD snow/ice days they do every year that is unsafe for kids to travel to school. This wont change. This means there will be MORE make-up days, since less are allowed. Our school has make-up days on Saturdays and Holiday vacations. Those make-up days are worthless and you way as well throw a bunch of kids in a gym to play, as their minds are not in the school those days anyhow, and there attention is low. The only thing that this change will cause is the schools feeling pressured to not make the call to ‘cancel school’ on days they probably would have before, because its dangerous. The whole thing makes no sense. there is no benefit from this. Also, I moved here at 13 from another country due to having a horrible chance at education in my country compared to here. To hear that a couple less calamity days is going to dramatically improve something education wise is a joke. And the education here is so far more incredible than in most other countries, It is funny to me to see this as any type of things people in congress would spend their time on, or make this decision.

By Politcal Separtist

October 25, 2010 11:22 AM | Link to this

If the derelict in the White House gets his way, kids will be going to school year round.

By Former Educator

September 13, 2010 9:26 PM | Link to this

I spent over 30 years in public education and see the present day eductional reforms in Ohio of little value for Ohio school districts. This is another politicial move to sway voters opinions and mask real problems. Lets forget calamity days and extending the school year and solve real problems such as educational funding in Ohio!! It seems lately most educational decisions out of Columbus have created a burden on local school districts instead of helping them. I will be voting next election for people who are problem solvers and not problem makers.

By Deb

August 24, 2010 6:40 PM | Link to this

Seems foolish to me. Where is the extra money going to come from to pay the additional money to teachers and other staff? How about utilities and adding air conditioning to schools? What about the busing? It is a ridiculous notion, and not really rational. All politics.

By Buy Ambien

April 5, 2010 7:41 AM | Link to this

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By Chris

February 16, 2010 11:33 PM | Link to this

Ok I’ll admit, I’m a student right now, a freshmen to be exact. I’m reading through some of these comments on this page and it’s actually quite comical to read these. It’s hard to take one’s self seriously when they are arguing about the length of a school year when they are using poor grammar all over the place. Seriously guys? If you want to sound intelligent, why don’t you write intelligently.

By chris

February 16, 2010 6:23 PM | Link to this

i am so angry that they are doing this. the state of ohio is so stupid when it comes to schools they have the wrong people in their. and the governor is a joke ohio is only getting worse and worse. so they honestly think that if the kids have no calamity days that they are going to pass all their tests and get straight A’s all of a sudden?? this idea is very very bad and its wrong for our kids safety. this is a horrible , awful idea. ohio needs to get its head out of its blank and start to focus on other important problems with the scholls lie hmmmm… how abotu having money to fund them

By Drew

February 16, 2010 10:20 AM | Link to this

I’m going to be ajuinor and im wondering what the state is planning on doing with all the lawsuits they will be getting because of accidents involving their children with bad weather?!? I’m just going to laugh whenever they realize that hey! students are getting into a lot of accidents all of a sudden because of weather! we didnt see this coming!.. this is a bad idea!

By mkg

February 15, 2010 11:08 PM | Link to this

I’m from Upper Michigan where the snow banks were as high as our heads in the winter. We had snow days, because the wanted the kids to stay alive and be able to graduate. I agree with calamity days, for godsakes what are a few days to keep your children safe? Why don’t they take away the parties and the fluff stuff kids do before taking away calamity days. My child is in 6th grade, and believe me I know that some days are NOT learning days at school. Focus on that and not endangering children!

By April May

February 11, 2010 12:27 PM | Link to this

I just do not get all the pressure on kids these days. Kids should be kids, not miniature adults. It is bad enough that most schools are shortening recess and kids don’t get enough exercise in the day. Curriculum are getting stricter and stricter as schools are aiming for high test scores. My first grader has an hour of homework a night, plus spelling words, vocabulary words and reading a book every night. Kids should have snow days, and not be punished for them. Not to mention the risk this puts teenage drivers at because the superintendents are leery in closing school because they don’t want to extend the year.

By Michele

February 11, 2010 11:24 AM | Link to this

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I have heard. Hello Strickland…we live in a state that snows. If this was Florida, I could understand the 0 calamity day idea. This not change the amount of days our kids are in school as they will be going further into June with no calamity days instead of getting out at the end of May with 5. Stupid, stupid, stupid. This is why I despise politicians.

By maybe i'm just naive?

February 6, 2010 2:34 PM | Link to this

maybe i’m just missing something, but why can’t the state focus on the problem that matters for ohio schools right now: funding. have they not noticed that schools can no longer pass operating levies? calamity days are not going to solve that problem! however, an honest effort will. give us the means to a better education please ohio!

By loves to learn

February 6, 2010 2:30 PM | Link to this

i don’t see why the state is focusing on “problems” like calamity days when the real problem is school funding. are they blind to the fact that no school can pass a levy anymore? what good is being in school a few extra days when the school has no money to provide its students with a quality education? please focus people! so students like me can get the education they want

By InsanityGamer

January 14, 2010 10:59 AM | Link to this

If you fix education in this country then most of the problems would be resolved with kids getting college diplomas and such, jobs would not be so hard to find. for there are people with certin skills required for specific jobs such as a Neosurgen, Game Designer, an officer of congress, a firefighter, SO ON AND SO FORTH. Its not that jobs are hard to find its that jobs that require no less then a high school degree are hard to find. Education needs to be resolved however this is not the right way to do it. will a 20 day extension to the school year really sovle anything? no probably not (Notice PROBABLY) so whats the point of adding 20 days? i am not quite sure it won’t solve the educational system if thats what your thinking INSANITY OUT

By carla

January 8, 2010 10:31 AM | Link to this

i agree 100% with david smiths comments on 11/22. parents are the key. adding more days to the end of the school year is a waste of time. our gov.ted is causing more problems with schools then solving them..

By Linda

January 6, 2010 10:31 PM | Link to this

There is no educational benefit to having students make up a calamity day. An extra day tacked onto the year in June does not equal the day lost in January or February. Most learning content is taught by weeks, units and grading periods. These time divisions remain constant. The grading period does not shift because days were lost due to weather conditions. Teachers and students work together to get back on track following a calamity day. There really is no “need” for make-up days.

By Maverick

January 6, 2010 1:41 PM | Link to this

This school delay thing will be so annoying when I get back into school next year has a high schooler!!!!!

By Jon

December 11, 2009 10:45 AM | Link to this

what person decided that taking away Calamity days and adding school days will make young adults want to learn? What this will do is make young minds insane and drop out. Then again maybe im wrong

By David Smith

November 22, 2009 10:11 PM | Link to this

Supporters of the elimination of snow days must have forgot what it is like to be a kid. As a father of two children, I believe society is forcing kids to grow up to quickly.Kids do not need more days in school, they need more parents involved in their education.

By suzie orman

July 28, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

teachers are the hardest working people that I know. Even if we gave them twenty snow days it would not even come close to what they could have made with a masters degree in another field!! Support your teachers!!

By Ohio Teacher

July 23, 2009 6:48 PM | Link to this

This notion of only giving 3 snow days to schools are really a misfortune. What happens when a business such as a mall misses a day because of a level 3 snow emergency. Do they have to make up that day or get it added to the end of their school year. I know working in a high school that one of the things students look forward to is driving to school but I can see a lot more accidents now because of teachers and students having to make it in on days that people should not be out on the roads. I am just glad I do not work in Pike co where they get a lot of snow and roads do not get plowed. Oh and btw the town where my school is the city does not even plow the streets until there is 3 in of snow on it. It has been horrible. People are complaining that kids our all over the place. I have to ask this where are the parents?? School is not suppose to be a babysitting service yet many people believe that is our role now. If we want to eliminate some snow days fine but why don’t we start looking at ways of funding schools more fairly. I could go 10 miles up the road from where I work and get paid almost 10,000 more a year for doing the same thing. Sorry to ramble, but as a teacher I think we should focus on making schools better not how many snow days we should have? What is the point? IS your child going to learn more if he goes for 175 not 180? I really do not think so. I would be in more favor of doing some kind of year round schedule, more like semesters in college.

By Stacey

April 20, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this

If they want to save day’s take away fall break. You just started school you don’t need a break. But snow day’s are needed in ohio. I will not let my child walk or ride a bus if it is bad outside. I am also a school bus driver. Why should I be responsiable for 77 children on a bus when there are level 1 2 or 3 snow emeregency’s out. My child just won’t be there. And I will still get paid and I won’t be there.

By MIKE

April 20, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

kids shouldnt have those 5 weather days.whenever they call off school during wintere,u.c.kids hangin out aat the mall,movies.

By mike

April 20, 2009 10:27 AM | Link to this

I THINK THAT NOT ONLY THOSE 5 DAYS SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY,KIDS SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL TILL AUGUST 15.AT LAST TILL THE END OF JUNE.WHENEVER THERES A SCHOOL A SCHOOOL DAY

By Nettie

April 20, 2009 9:02 AM | Link to this

I don’t think most of you realize the point behind this. Strickland wanted to add 20 days, but the state can’t afford to pay salaries for 20 more days. The only paid days off teachers get is for five snow days, if they happen. If you take them away, teachers work all of those days and get no extra money. It’s just another way of making us do more for less. We have to fund our own master’s degrees, but we must have one to be allowed to teach. Our licenses went from $40 to $200 plus $65 for fingerprinting every five years. They could just keep them on file and re-run them for $10, but this way the state makes more. Now, we don’t even get the benefit of a few snow days, when most of us grade papers and catch up on lessons anyway. I wonder why there is a teacher shortage in so many places in the country?

By Laura

April 18, 2009 10:27 PM | Link to this

Does the governor plan to exempt schools from lawsuits that will result when students are involved in accidents due to weather?

By Laura

April 18, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this

School employees do not get paid triple for anything. How ridiculous to say that.

By Jah!

April 17, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this

Children these days have a much higher rate of attention deficit disorder brought on by a constant change of stimulus (new studies suggest that children under the age of 7 who watch more than 4 hours of television a week are more likely to develop attention deficit disorder due to the ever changing stimuli on tv, ie constantly changing scenes, screen shots, etc.) Doing away with all of the breaks is an awful idea. These kids need a break from school every now and then. Studies show that children do much better retaining information and learning different tasks in the weeks following breaks. Doing away with school holidays and breaks would be preposterous-especially with the amount of children with divorced parents, they wouldn’t be able to make it out to see their other parent if they live a great distance away. I am originally from New York, and we only had snow days when you could not drive on the streets at all. Snow days for us did not consist of driving to the mall or our friends houses, it was you walk or you don’t go anywhere. Here in Springfield if there are two inches of snow on the ground the district cancels school. I have a much better solution: Buy more salt so the city can actually salt the roads next year and we probably won’t have to worry about it. Stop hating on the kids. Leave the snowdays be, lets be honest; very little work gets done when students have to go back to school after they’ve taken their finals.

By scottishgirl

April 17, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this

I don’t mind my kids making up snow days at the end of the year, but I sure would like them to do more with that time than watch movies in class! I am continually frustrated to hear what happens in their classrooms the last week or so of school - complete waste of their time and my tax money. They end up reading more at home, and doing more “constructive” things, than they do in school the last week or so. I know the kids are ready to have summer break, and the teachers too, but that doesn’t excuse a total lack of effort! Adding make up days to then end of the year isn’t worthwhile if it’s after the almighty tests! ntinued frustration a

By kevin

April 17, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this

If the reclaimed school days creates a problem with your vacation, plan it a week later. Simple sounding to me.

By kevin

April 17, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this

If making up missed days at the end of the year creates a problem with a family vacation plan, here’s an idea…plan ahead & figure a weeks wor

By CBD

April 17, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this

This is why we homeschool.We don’t have to deal with public school drama!

By Annna

April 17, 2009 10:23 AM | Link to this

brunnegd - I am not comfortable letting my 5 year old walk 7 miles to school in bad weather. Lets be real. And to the individual who said teachers/staff are paid triple when they have to work on snow days…get me a job. I have never had that benefit. I agree with others - this is a democrat plan. Let it pass and let them dig themselves a hole…hahaha

By Sarah

April 17, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this

In Dayton schools early 50’s-‘60’s we had NO snow days. Spring Break was Good Friday-Easter Monday. Xmas was one week. It was a much better schedule.

By Eric

April 17, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this

Well, as most parents don’t realize. Charter schools do not receive calamity days. So nothing changes for us. If there going to do it, it should be all or nothing. Take them all next year, get the budget right from the get go. Some districs need the extra funds for next year, not three or four years from now.

By brunnegd

April 17, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this

Attack the root cause of snow days. Yellow Monsters. Get the buses off of the roads, encourage children to walk/bike to school.Snow days, 2 hour delays only exist so roads can be cleared for buses.2elays

By christopher

April 17, 2009 9:48 AM | Link to this

I think this is one of the most stupid ideas the people can come up with.

By brunnegd

April 17, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this

Start by cutting out all of the days off dduring the school year, such as spring break. We started school the day after labor day, ended before memorial day, had no spring break. I think we were in class at least 180 days.

By sec 312

April 17, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

I like the idea of no spring break. Take that time during the winter. Save heat cost, avoid bad weather. Why do they need a spring break when summer is around th ecorner?

By SH

April 17, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

Making them up is better than adding 20 days to the schedule would have been - unless they make day #180 the last day, as someone suggested.

By Caring Parent

April 17, 2009 9:10 AM | Link to this

Why does everyone assume that by taking away calamity days, our kids will have to go to school when the roads are bad? We live in a very rural community, and I can assure you if the roads are bad, they will cancel, regardless of having to make up days. Iunderstanding

By kurt

April 17, 2009 8:36 AM | Link to this

The joke of school calamity days :1/2 of the kids don’t utilize the bus service that EVERYONE pays for but they’ll be cruisin’ around town as soon as school is called off.Parents have to go to work —regardless.Who’s more important to the family unit—an income earner or a child.What’s the odds on which one would get injured ?

By Fedup

April 17, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this

Talk about melodramatic! Why shouldn’t they have to make up their calamity days? Some of the reasons for closing are insane anyway!!

By gofigure

April 17, 2009 8:17 AM | Link to this

school districts better be ready for some lawsuits………

By max

April 17, 2009 8:08 AM | Link to this

That is a good idea JS…

By jim

April 17, 2009 8:00 AM | Link to this

This is anti-family legislation.

By R.U.Kidding

April 17, 2009 7:30 AM | Link to this

Am I the only one that has a problem with State Rep Clayton Luckie’s arithmetic? How the heck does he figure it is “adding class time”. It is NOT adding anything, it is replacing lost class time! The Rep. Quoted Statement: “State Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, who used to serve on the Dayton Public Schools board, said it’s a way of adding class time without costing more money.”

By JS

April 17, 2009 7:25 AM | Link to this

Do like many rural schools in Indiana do when bad weather strikes. School is open. No bus service. School is open- get there if you can. Funny…people always get to the Mall on such calamity days. If they can do that- they can get to school.

By kerry

April 17, 2009 7:05 AM | Link to this

These politicians do not care about students, its all about the dollar, so they can get more in there pockets.

By Frank

April 17, 2009 7:01 AM | Link to this

If you can’t agree with current and changing policies - - Home School!!!

By DB

April 17, 2009 6:21 AM | Link to this

Easy Solution: Do away with spring break. Kids get out of school about 8 weeks later.

By Jay

April 17, 2009 6:20 AM | Link to this

I have an idea. How about better using the time the spend in school now.

By Mamaof3

April 17, 2009 5:54 AM | Link to this

I agree jojo! School months should be reversed! Wonderful idea, too bad they won’t ever consider it!

By rj

April 17, 2009 5:25 AM | Link to this

I wonder whether Tricky Stricky and his band of Demmiecrats wants me to wear boxers or briefs…….

By max

April 17, 2009 4:57 AM | Link to this

That’s part of this problem Ben - folks do have plans based on the school calendar - and the current proposal (even w/ 3 calamity days), will disrupt people’s lives and schedule. The biggest problem is that adding time to the school day OR the school calendar isn’t going to improve learning. How many schools this week - especially in your lower performing districts, spent the ENTIRE day(including gym), prepping the kids how to take the OAT next week? Schools aren’t making ends meet now - and there isn’t money to balance what is currently in place.

By ben

April 16, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this

@Kathy Saturday classes would be difficult since many sports teams have meets/games that day. Between travel and the event, most of the day is already blown.

By helping others get it

April 16, 2009 10:36 PM | Link to this

Here’s an idea for all of you who don’t get how this will work. Set the school schedule for 190 days, giving the school an opportunity to use 10 snow days without making it up. Thus, with 10 days automatically built into the schedule, you’re covered and then some. When you hit the 180th day, that’s the last day of school. You may not have to go to school until the “scheduled” last day, unless you use all 10 days! Doesn’t take a rocket scientist!

By MShake

April 16, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this

Painfultruth- Sounds like we understand now why your education level never made it past the 8th grade.

By Kathy

April 16, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this

What is wrong with making the days up on Saturdays. I think this would be a way to solve the problem instead of tacking them on the end of the year.

By Tripping

April 16, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand why people are so upset. I am from the class of 2000. When I was in High school and we had a really bad snow storm that took us out of school for an extra two weeks we had to make us the days. This is nothing new and I don’t know why people are upset. They are not asking parents to bring their kids in on snow days but that the days need to be made up. People need to stop fussing.

By jerkface

April 16, 2009 10:17 PM | Link to this

hey jojo that is a Very good idea.

By Mom to Four

April 16, 2009 10:08 PM | Link to this

Will it take a serious bus accident on an icy road with killed or hurt students for people to realize this idea is just plain stupid?

By max

April 16, 2009 10:04 PM | Link to this

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!!! As a parent, now i’m told that school ends on say June 10 ~ and generally speaking, school ends then and my family & i can be on the road on vacation or summer camp within a couple days……but under the new system, school ends June 10 and maybe up to a week later will be the real last day of school. I can’t plan vacations because I can’t count on when the last day of school will be…The last few years, many of the districts have used their allotted 5 days AND then some…so, that would extend school AT LEAST another week….This stinks!! Many educators that I know are also in workshops the week following the last week of school….How’s that going to happen when people don’t really know when the last day of school is going to be???

By Paul

April 16, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this

Why shouldn’t kids have to go to school for a fixed number of days regardless of when they are? I see no problem with this.

By Maria

April 16, 2009 8:15 PM | Link to this

At least they’re planning for make up days this time! Last year, our state government told EVERY charter school that they had to make up their calamity days… the week before school ended for the year! Just one more thing to “screw” charters by our governor and the teacher’s union!theircalamity day

By painfultruth

April 16, 2009 7:20 PM | Link to this

Oh, the poooor CHILDREN! Oh, how can they COPE with such PRESSURE? When I was in school, we were expected to be there regardless of the weather.. Bunch of sissies! AND, HAD TO FIND OUR OWN WAY!

By comment

April 16, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this

Instead of trying to fix what is not broken, how about trying to fix what is broken: a school funding system declared unconstitutional years agol

By jojo

April 16, 2009 6:45 PM | Link to this

Maybe they should make it winter break instead of summer break. Have the kids go March 15th through Thanksgiving. This way you won’t have many snow days. They orginally got summers off to work on the farms. Since that has gone by the wayside. Make them go during the summer and stay home in the winter - Decrease heating costs of schools.

By Lynn

April 16, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this

Adding days to the school year isn’t going to help. Teachers spend all their time teaching the kids how to pass the Ohio Achievement Test. The test is BS, it hasn’t improved our kids education. Start teaching the basics again, reading writing and arithmetic. They turn out little factory workers, our schools used to turn out people who could run their own businesses.

By K

April 16, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this

I hate to tell many of you, but as a teacher, I can tell you that snow days are not the reason our education system is suffering… I could go on for days about the problems, but it certainly isn’t due to snow days!

By BRUCE

April 16, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this

LIBERTARIAN: EDUCATION IS CONTROLLED BY STUDENTS. THEY, IN TURN, REFLECT THEIR PARENTS. IF STUDENTS DON’T LEARN, DON’T BLAME ANYONE BUT THE STUDENTS. HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO TEACH? I BET YOU WOULDN’T LAST A DAY.

By s

April 16, 2009 5:39 PM | Link to this

Are those of you who grew up here and are over the age of 25 forgetting that we were made to attend school now matter hell or high water. It behoves us as parents to not teach our children that they have to be accountable for things weather and all. When our Jobs don’t close we get there don’t we? I suggest you people who are breeding your children to be lazy get up a lil earlier the next time we have a fog day LMAO!

By maybe

April 16, 2009 5:36 PM | Link to this

Why don’t they just extend the school day by 15 minutes in the morning and 15 in the afternoon? When I was in high school we missed 12 days and didn’t have to make any up because we went to school longer than mandated anyway…

By Dawn

April 16, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

Well i can honestly say that weather it be dem. or rep. They all have forgotten that it is our children’s safety that has to be accounted for. They don’t want kids in school if they r sick, why would they want them standing on the corner when anything could happen(especially in icy weather). and to make up snow days is rediculous. they r already so tierd and burned out as it is!

By J

April 16, 2009 5:24 PM | Link to this

Hey Fred, how many kids are you hauling around when you drive in the snow to your job?

By Heather

April 16, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this

My daughter goes to school year-round and I think that it’s a great option that should be looked into. When they just had their “spring break” - which normally should have been 3 weeks, they had to cut it by 3 days to make up for being off a week from the windstorm. It didn’t hurt the kids a bit. Shorter summer breaks is going to equal better retention for a lot of kids. And I’m okay with no snow days, as long as there is some good regulation on what constitutes a necessary day off.

By Matt

April 16, 2009 5:16 PM | Link to this

This is not a good idea. Schools in Ohio need the snow days for a reason. I think at this point it should be a good idea that the State should increased the snow days because it seems that our summers and winters keep getting longer. The state should not have to put a bus driver on the road to put a child life in danger because of the state says no more snow days. Some one is not really thinking this one through. What happens for those schools that have to run buses in the rural areas that do not get plowed that much?? I know of a lot of schools in the Miami Valley that do have those routes. Schools need to be up at the State House on this one with telling our leaders that this is NOT A GOOD IDEA!

By notgood

April 16, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this

I fear this will backfire. Administration will be hesitant to call snow days out of fear of backlash when adding days to the end of the school year or during breaks. This will cause bad decisions and send kids out in dangerous weather. Plus, I’m not sure how this saves money, as the buses will run just as many days, and teachers generally still report on snow days…

By Libertarian

April 16, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this

The government schools are controlled by Demoncrats, socialists, and unions. Which is why most perform so badly.

By Pert

April 16, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this

I think this is a bad idea, you’ll have buses running in bad weather so the school year won’t have to be extended. Very bad idea.

By Rae

April 16, 2009 5:02 PM | Link to this

I agree to cancel school when it’s too dangerous to drive on the roads… but I do agree to make them up as well. It won’t hurt the kids to make up days they got to sit around and watch TV all day and play playstation!!! I loved snow days but education is more important.

By Interested observer

April 16, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

Why are we blaming the politicos (who cares what party) for finally attempting to address the issues.I think if we say we should have 180 days, then we have 180 days - sorry about your “getaway” plans.getwawy

By Interested observer

April 16, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

Why are we blaming the politicos (who cares what party) for finally attempting to address the issues.St least

By Fred

April 16, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this

Dear Busdriver, those of us who work in private industry dont have the luxery of Snowdays we still have to make it to work rain, sleet, snow or shine….

By steve

April 16, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this

Well I see that if we push it hard enough and not allow the school board to squirm out of it we should make the school board take a 35% pay cut …no raises for 5 years..that should get rid of the dead wood….

By Publicus

April 16, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this

This makes a lot of sense. If we think kids need to go to school for 180 days per year, why do we say, “well, it snowed, so you only really need 175.” They either need that much school or they don’t.

By 4kids

April 16, 2009 4:51 PM | Link to this

More doesn’t always mean better. When the MCSD cut back to the state minimum daily time requirement (due to the levy not passing), the kids actually performed better academically and were better behaved.

By Busdriver

April 16, 2009 4:49 PM | Link to this

As a school bus driver taking away calamity days are bad, we need them for the days that weather is too bad to drive in. Snow and ice can be VERY dangerous and I personally don’t like to drive my own vehicle in it, let alone taking kids back and forth to school.Upsets me that we will have to make them up, we can’t control the weather.

By glortiz

April 16, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this

It would be very interesting to hear honest opinions without all the political ranting. Have you not realized that is how “nothing gets done!” We are talking about our kids, how do you really feel?

By J

April 16, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

As a teacher we often get blamed for the OGT tests. We have to abide by the schools wishes. Our hands are tied. Of course we would love to to teach other things and we have to get creative in finding ways to teach “to the test”. If any of you Republicans want to come up with a solution please do so, if not continue your whining, seems that in the last 8 years that has gotten us so far. r!

By Jbuck

April 16, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this

Bob, I would put Franklin Monroe and Versailles kids up against any in the state. Our kids still learn real things and are not just taught to pass a test.

By LTC

April 16, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this

OF course the days will be made up after they take the Ohio Achievement test. When the schools basically stop teaching for the year.

By Feel better now

April 16, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this

I think it is a great idea. We are so arrogant to think that our children don’t need more education. They do! We are behind other countries in a lot of things academically. If you want to talk about a bad idea you needn’t look too far. The Repubs came up with a brilliant one several years back and it was signed here in here in Hamilton. No Child Left Behind. I have had to put up with a Rep in office for 8 years. And stand by as our country fell to the wayside. SHUT UP!! Child Left Behind Act.”

By Lisa

April 16, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

the democrats are building a deeper hole for themselves.Ley them sink

By Charley

April 16, 2009 4:30 PM | Link to this

Lets face it, adding additional school days is just another way to have the schools assume the responsibility of raising children. Yes, it takes a village to raise a child, but it shouldn’t take a government

By Rob

April 16, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

Well, I routinely build a few “slop” days into every schedule I work with on the job. Sure, add 20 more but leave in the 5 give-aways. You don’t have to take them but you’ll miss them if they are not there. BTW, a solid state and end date are a necessity to me as a parent.

By Skeptic

April 16, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

So basically, they get 5 more days of school at most, instead of 20. In the meantime, our country falls behind the rest of the industrialized world. Education is the key to saving our economy. Keep the kids in school and off the street!

By Old bus

April 16, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

Do you know that when schools are closed for bad weather and employees are required to work, they are paid triple time.

By Lisa

April 16, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this

ok makes alot of sence…NOT. here the cities are not salting the streets because the salt is to expensive and here they take away the calamity days.The democrats are building

By ohgodno

April 16, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this

Just one more reason WHY I home school my kids. These public schools around here are a joke.

By SueMe

April 16, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this

Uh, xu: It seems you have a reading comprehension problem, too. The required amount of days is 180, not 120. DUH!

By Bob

April 16, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this

I think adding extra days to the school year is a great idea. That way when Arcanum-Butler, Ansonia Local, or any of the exempted village/Montessori schools have a stiff breeze and need to delay or close, the students won’t be missing out on their education.

By xu

April 16, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this

It’s amazing how many of you didn’t read this article correctly. No one is sending the kids out in dangerous weather.They are simply saying that the missed days will be have to be made up athe end of the schoold year. They want to make sure the kids get the full 120 days of school. The fact that many of you misread the article proves that our kids need to be in school as much as possible. Its called reading comprehension! proves

By Diane

April 16, 2009 4:13 PM | Link to this

Yes-because we need all those extra days to make sure all the kids know the answers to the state OIT tests. God knows we don’t teach anymore for learning-it is allabout getting the kids to pass that test

By Morons

April 16, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this

Did any of you actually read the legislation. It will not force schools into staying open during bad weather- they will just have to make up those days. Schools will now just set aside a week at the end of the year for make-ups…kind of like other states do with weather similar to ours. Not that big of a deal….oh yes, dems will lose future elections for having schools make up snow days…i’m sure…moron.

By Lea

April 16, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this

I did forget something. The windstorm? They shouldn’t have to make that up. Act of God.

By somethingbetter

April 16, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this

you have got to admit that some of these canceled school days are a little ridiculous. If this would create some common sense about canceling school for a day, I am for it. Too hot - cancel school. Too cold - cancel school.

By Lea

April 16, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this

School cancelled because of FOG? OH NO, it’s cold (er, we live in OHIO). Or it’s too hot. Personally, snow days are fine, it’s the rest of the stuff that’s stupid.

By The Echo of Moe

April 16, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this

Sending these kids to school in dangerous weather just because they refuse to have snow days is rediculous! Will it take a student getting hurt or worst before they stop this new policy?

By Ted

April 16, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this

please read Andrew’s comment, this is very common in other area’s of the country with similar weather patterns to ours.

By Campaign Advisor

April 16, 2009 4:04 PM | Link to this

I would advise Republicans to sit back and let this one pass. The democrats will take a beating in future elections if it does.

By bub

April 16, 2009 4:00 PM | Link to this

And why do we need more class time? The majority of it is already wasted on “training” the students for taking the standardized tests. More time in the class does not equate to better education. And 5 extra days, or 20, will not make a significant difference. It the state really wanted to make a difference in our schools, they would fix the method of funding them. AND, they would allocate more of those Ohio Lottery funds to education. There is a commercial running now that shows kids trying to sell fund-raising items for their team, etc… then they show a cashier selling lottery tickets. What message is this sending? Don’t support your band kids or cheerleaders trying to raise funds that go specifically to to the organization, instead, buy lottery tickets, waste your money, and feed the state budget. Maybe instead of extra school days, we should be training our students to gamble away their money. STUPID. The Ohio Legislature needs to go back to school.

By democratic math

April 16, 2009 3:59 PM | Link to this

You get 5 calamity days - 20 additional days = one smarter child.Which equals more money in the teacher’s union that equals re-elected democrat.

By Andrew

April 16, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this

They aren’t saying you cannot have snow days. Rather, you just have to make them up at some point in the year to get a full 180 days. I grew up in Pennsylvania and we had to make up every day we missed. Will it stop schools from canceling with a foot of snow? No, but it may prevent classes being canceled because of fog.

By ELW

April 16, 2009 3:51 PM | Link to this

We can’t come up with enough resources to clean and salt our streets yet we will endanger our children and teaching staff just so we can get a few more bucks in the school system It ain’t worth it!

By Angie

April 16, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this

Another bright democratic idea!

By Jim

April 16, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this

WOW That just makes sooo much sense! Never mind the families who make plans for the school breaks. I know this past year we had to cancel one get away due to makeup days. So with this thinking schools would be open for 7 more days this year. What this will actually do is force more superintendents to make even more dangerous calls as to when to cancel school. Way to go Democrats!

By ukgirl

April 16, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this

Lets send the kids to school on dangerous roads covered in ice or a foot of snow! what are these people thinking. I agree if you call it Christmas break it will be gone before youcan blink!!

By scott

April 16, 2009 3:38 PM | Link to this

Another brilliant idea. Let’s punish the kids with makeup days because of bad weather. What’s next taking away holidays, spring break and Chirstmas break. Wait can’t call it Christmas break anymore or they’ll take it away for sure.