TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - This winter, many schools in the area saw snow day after snow day. Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill giving the state four extra calamity days, but with some school districts using double-digits, there is still some making up to do.
Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant laid out the district's plan Thursday morning. To make up 14 days, the plan is to move forward with Blizzard Bags filled with material for students to complete, as well as adding a half-hour to school days for elementary students and a make-up day for high school students.
Durant held a press conference with other community agency leaders to also discuss their collaborative effort to give students the help they need in order to get that work completed. TPS is working with the United Way, Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA/JCC of Greater Toledo to set up dates and times students can get assistance with their make-up assignments.
The United Way of Toledo will be offering a variety of activities and programs at Leverette Elementary, Pickett Academy, Scott High and Robinson Elementary.
"Those activities range from GED classes to financial coaching, as well as help with completing the Blizzard Bag activities. So, students have an opportunity to partake in activities, as well as get that help they need to complete those assignments," said Libby Schoen, United Way director of education.
According to Durant, from April 25 to May 2, elementary students will have an added 15 minutes of school before their day starts and as their day ends. High school students will make up 4 1/2 hours on a teacher work day.
Durant says they wanted these extra hours to prepare the students for Ohio Achievement Tests.
"We wanted to make sure that those hours added up in support of them being prepared for the Ohio Achievement Tests, which they'll be taking the last week of April right into the first week of May, which makes sense of why we added the time on within that week to make sure students are prepared and ready," explained Durant.
Students will take home a letter explaining this effort. More information can be obtained from an all-call system and the TPS website.
