State Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, has introduced legislation that would hold-harmless graduation
dates for this year even if schools have missed numerous days due to the weather.
Gardner’s legislation (SB 273) would allow school districts to hold graduation ceremonies in 2014 on the
same date as originally scheduled at the beginning of the school year, and permit school districts, at
their discretion, to waive school attendance for graduating seniors for school days beyond the
graduation date.
"While there are competing strategies as to how proceed on calamity day legislation, hopefully this
is one issue on which we can agree and resolve soon so that school districts and families can continue
their
graduation plans," Gardner stated.
Every Wood County school has far surpassed the five calamity days allowed. Legislation has been
introduced in Columbus to increase allowable days lost to nine.
As of Friday, Otsego and Eastwood have both missed 14 days, Bowling Green has missed 13, Elmwood and Lake
have missed 12, Northwood and North Baltimore have missed 11, and Perrysburg and Rossford have missed
nine.