A proposed bill that could change Ohio class time calculation has some Athens educators double-checking the state’s math and motive.
Hoping to aid the state’s tourism industry, Ohio House Bill 191 would change the measurement of the minimum amount of time spent in school for Ohio students from days to hours.
The bill would lengthen the summer break by keeping students in school longer each day, which would decrease the total number of days students are in school each year.
Chris Gerig, vice president of the Athens City School District Board of Education, said this bill is not a good idea for Athens and is a misallocation of priorities by the state.
“I hope the state stays out of our business and away from our education calendar,” Gerig said.
If passed, the bill would mandate that the 2012-13 school year begin after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day.
The current school year began on Aug. 23, two weeks before Labor Day, and is scheduled to end one week before Memorial Day on May 24.
If the bill were to pass, the summer break this year would be extended by at least 2 weeks.
Students in Ohio are mandated to be in school for 182 days, but HB 191 would convert those days into hourly totals.
Students in kindergarten through 6th grade would be required to attend a minimum 960 hours of school, while 7th through 12th graders would attend a minimum of 1,050 hours.
If converted, these hours total far fewer than the district’s current school days.
One of the sponsors of the bill, Rep. Bill Hayes, R-91st, said many districts only are in school for 170 days at most and could potentially have students in school longer each day.
If converted, the bill would have students in school between 150 and 173 days, depending how long each district decided to have school in session each day.
The bill eliminates excused calamity days and extends the school day to a minimum of five hours per day for kindergarten through 6th graders and extends the school day for 7th through 12th graders to a minimum of five and a half hours.
Each school district’s board of education must review the hours before the changes are finalized.
Starting the school year later will help Ohio’s tourism industry, which is negatively affected when kids go back to school, Hayes said.
Athens City Schools Superintendent Carl Martin declined to comment on the bill.
Some Athens teachers agree that the state should keep education calendars in the hands of local education boards and believe tourism shouldn’t hinder children’s education.
Brian Dearing, social studies teacher at Athens High School, said he doesn’t think tourism should affect any type of educational choice.
“We need to have our priorities be in the best interest of our students, not on Ohio tourism,” Dearing said.
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