With a winter weather warning in effect and forecasts warning of as much as 3 inches of snow, many students in Athens County were probably wearing their pajamas inside out last night.
Every school district in Athens County has already used its allotment of snow days for the school year - even if snow does not force schools to close today.
In the past, school districts had five calamity days to be used in case of emergencies, building problems or inclement weather.
But Gov. Ted Strickland cut that number down to three for the 2010-11 school year, in an effort to keep classes in session more often.
Three of the county's five school districts were forced to close for a day after a tornado and heavy rainstorms touched down in the region in September.
We've used four days so far
said Carl Martin, superintendent of Athens City Schools.
Martin said the district has a schedule in place to make up school days for every day the school is closed.
The district can afford to take three additional calamity days before it would be forced to extend the school year deeper into the summer, Martin said.
We don't like to miss school Martin said. The more days we can have in school and the more days we have of instruction the better.
But officials at county school districts say the number of calamity days they are allotted doesn't influence their decisions to call off school.
If we have to go deeper into May
then we will
said Mick McClelland, superintendent of Nelsonville-York City schools.
Nelsonville-York plans to cut into its spring break to make up extra days they take off because of snow, McClelland said.
But districts that have already used up their calamity days may have more flexibility next year.
Gov.-elect John Kasich, who will be inaugurated Monday, said last month that his 10-year-old daughter Reese convinced him to switch back to giving districts five calamity days.
It's always been five days
McClelland said, adding that he supports increasing the number of potential days off.
School officials added that, for districts in rural southeast Ohio, busing students to school during snowstorms poses a safety risk.
In city areas
it is relatively flat
Martin said. In Athens
every bus run is up or down a hill.
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33194,2011-01-07 02:52:00,Cooking up change at Boyd,Since the renovation of Shively Dining Hall in January 2010
students with meal plans have not had much of a reason to travel across campus to explore their dining options. However
some recent changes to Boyd Dining Hall's menu might make the walk to West Green more appealing.
Charles Moseley
