Bill dealing with ice storm's effects on schools advances to Senate

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Schools would not have to make up all the days lost to this year's ice storm, under a bill making its way through the Missouri Legislature.

The House passed the bill, sponsored by Rep. B.J. Marsh, R-Springfield, by a 144-6 vote on March 5. It would allow districts to forgo making up days lost from Jan. 15 to 22.

The House also added an emergency clause, meaning the bill would take immediate effect after being signed by Gov. Matt Blunt.

Most districts in southwest Missouri, however, have already adjusted their schedules to make up for the snow days.

In the Neosho R-5 School District, school board President Richard Davidson said May 29 has already been set as the new last day of school.

"There is no doubt when the last day of school is," Davidson said. "If the legislation passes, then the question is whether the board will take the state up on its offer."

Terri Moser teaches a religion class, not connected to the district, to Neosho High School students. Her class schedule is tied to the district's.

"I need to know when school is out for my classes," Moser said. "I use the same plan as the school."

Moser said Neosho students were given letters for their parents, asking them to contact lawmakers and urge speedy action on the bill. Davidson said he was not aware of that, however, and Nodler said no one had contacted him about speeding up the process.

"My guess is that this bill will be done before I hear any complaints," Nodler said. "The Senate has worked on this with lightning speed."

Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, attached a variation of the emergency measure to his bill dealing with schools' starting dates. Goodman's proposal would expedite the process for forgiving weather days, if a similar storm happened again.