State Representative Jim Buchy
Buchy supports the Governor’s Request for Additional Calamity Days

Buchy Recognizes the Need for more Calamity Days to Keep Ohio’s School Children Safe—and Encourages Local Schools to Use E-Day/Blizzard Bag as an Option in Future Years

Columbus—Following Governor Kasich’s call for additional snow days for Ohio’s schools, Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) released the following statement:

“Today, I learned that Governor Kasich has called for additional calamity days for the safety of Ohio’s school children. The Governor has clearly given good consideration to the well-being of Ohio children and I consider his wisdom to be a good policy move. In order for schools to receive more calamity days it will require legislative action that I will support.

“A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of a team that supported legislation to add an ‘E-Day’ and ‘Blizzard Bag’ option for Ohio schools as an option to have more calamity days. The law allows schools to make up as many as 3 school days via take-home work or online assignment. In House District 84 several schools are using this option and as a result their calamity day situation is much different than many other schools in the state. The program has been implemented across Ohio by many schools.

“The E-Day/Blizzard Bag law requires action by a school district in August and prevents schools from using this option anymore in the 2013/2014 school year. The e-day program started as a pilot project at Mississinawa Valley Schools, which is part of the 84th House District, in the 2010/2011 school year. The program has grown significantly since that time and may be a good option for local school districts in future years to avoid problems like we are facing this year.”