Snow days bill sent to governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In a move sure to please students, school districts that had a substantial number of snow days this year will be allowed to forgo making up as many as five days of classes under legislation sent to the governor on Thursday.

The bill was a response to the uncommonly harsh winter in the southern part of the state. Some Southeast Missouri districts canceled classes on more than 20 days.

The Senate passed the measure, which had previously cleared the House of Representatives, by a unanimous vote.

State Sen. Bill Foster, R-Poplar Bluff, said there was some urgency in acting on the bill.

"Superintendents in our districts are trying to schedule the last days of school and need to know if we are going to get this passed," said Foster, the Senate sponsor.

Gov. Bob Holden is expected to sign the bill, which contains an emergency clause that will allow it to become law the instant he does so.

Schools will have to make up the first seven days missed due to snow but not the next five. Any missed days in excess of 12 will have to be rescheduled.

The Cape Girardeau and Jackson districts, for example, have both missed eight days. Under the bill, they could choose to make up just seven.

State Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, said extending the school year well into June would be a hardship for teachers, students and districts.

"Some of the districts have lost more than 20 days of school, and it's impossible to have them make up all those days," Engler said.

On average, Southeast Missouri districts missed 14 days of school, Engler said.

The only other alternative to extending the school year was to hold classes on weekends. Engler called that impractical as it attendance tends to be low, which would cost districts state funding next year.

The bill is HB 554.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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