The Board of Education recognizes that the preparation of a calendar for the instructional program of the schools is necessary for orderly educational planning and for the efficient operation of the District.

The Board shall determine annually the total number of hours when the schools will be in session for instructional purposes with students in attendance - including scheduled classes, supervised activities and approved education options. When recommending a school calendar to the Board for its consideration and approval, the Superintendent shall analyze and address the factors identified in AG 8210.

At least thirty (30) days prior to adopting a school calendar, the Board shall hold a public hearing on the school calendar, addressing topics that include, but are not limited to, the total number of hours in a school year, length of school day, and beginning and end dates of instruction. "School day" means the time during a calendar day that a school is open for instruction pursuant to the Board-adopted schedule.

When establishing the school calendar, the Board requires that an observance be scheduled each year on or about Veterans Day to convey the meaning and significance of that day to all students and staff. The observance shall be at least one (1) hour, or, in schools that schedule class periods of less than one (1) hour, at least one (1) standard class period. The Board will determine the specific activities that constitute the observance in each school in the District after consultation with the school administrators.

While the Superintendent may close schools due to disease, epidemic, hazardous weather conditions, law enforcement emergencies, damage to a school building, utility failure, or inoperability of school buses or other equipment needed for school operations (collectively, "a calamity"), the schools nevertheless must be in session with students in attendance for at least the minimum number of hours required by Ohio law.

The Superintendent is authorized to develop and implement a plan to require students to access and complete classroom lessons posted on the District's web portal or web-site in order to make up hours in that school year on which it is necessary to close school due to a calamity. The maximum number of hours that may be made up in this manner is the number of hours that are the equivalent to three (3) school days. The plan must include the written consent of the teachers' union, and address all of the requirement set forth in R.C. 3313.482. The plan may also include distribution of "blizzard bags," which are paper copies of the lessons posted online.

The school calendar and the number of hours of student instruction shall be consistent with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreements between the District and its employees.

R.C. 3313.602, 3313.48, 3313.62, 3313.63, 3317.01 (B), 3313.482

Revised 12/12/11
Revised 12/10/12
Revised 11/11/13
Revised 6/9/14
Revised 5/8/17