Could Ohio's school districts of the future come to rely on the Internet to make up days lost because of bad weather or other calamities?
A pair of Ohio lawmakers would like to see teachers in snowy districts like Beaver Local, which had to cancel classes again Friday, be able to post assignments online, so students could work on them at home. But the Beaver superintendent said the idea wouldn't work for her.
"We're here in Appalachia, and there would be many children that wouldn't have access to a computer," said Supt. Sandy DiBacco.
DiBacco said while snowy back roads can become too hazardous for school buses, there are areas in the 144-square-mile district that are simply too remote for Internet access.
"I can picture a child working on an assignment and the Internet cutting out on them," she said.
One of the sponsors of the bill is Mark Okey, of nearby Carrolton. He didn't return a call for comment, but another lawmaker, who sits on the House of Representatives' Education Committee, did.
Rep. Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown, called the bill bad public policy, arguing most districts cancel classes only a few days a year, making the idea largely unnecessary. Instead, he said the state needs to do away with calamity days altogether.
In the meantime, some Beaver Local students now have five days to make up, meaning classes will continue into June before they can start summer vacation.
