State Representatives Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) and John Carey (R-Wellston) today announced that Governor John Kasich has signed into law House Bill 36, which will restore the number of school calamity days from three to five each year.

The law takes effect immediately and allows two additional calamity days for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. It will also allow schools the flexibility to make up calamity days by lengthening the school day in 30-minute increments.

“I’m very proud to see the passage of House Bill 36 and its importance to the district,” said Kozlowski. “We’ve faced a harsh winter, and hopefully this bill will remedy any concerns in the future. This bill gives back local control and flexibility to decide what’s best for their school district.”

In the past, the first five calamity days of each school year were excused and school districts made up calamity days beyond the fifth. However, as a result of an amendment to House Bill 1 during the 128th General Assembly, only three calamity days were beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, and many districts quickly used all available calamity days because of the snowy winter.

“Rep. Kozlowski and I worked very hard on this legislation, and I’m pleased that it is now signed into Ohio law,” said Carey. “We listened to the people in our communities who said that three calamity days is simply not enough for a state that faces extremely hazardous winters, and now local districts have more freedom to decide whether or not to cancel classes.”

House Bill 36 was introduced in January 2011 as a measure to empower school districts and administrators.