Advance warning: No school in Wooster District April 8, day of solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse directly in the path of Northeast Ohio on April 8 next year will close schools in the Wooster City School District.

It will be used as one of the district's five calamity days, just like a snow day, Superintendent Gabe Tudor told the board at its Tuesday evening meeting.

"We anticipate a very significant amount of visitors, and all the hotels are fully booked," Tudor said. "We are in the direct line of this solar eclipse."

The timing of its totality, from just before 2 p.m. to just before 4:30 p.m. coincides with dismissal times for bus drivers, parent-pickup and students waking home.

It creates a dangerous situation, knowing kids will be interested, Tudor said, pointing out the eclipse can only be viewed with specific safety measures and special glasses.

Sports practices and other after-school activities will not begin until 5 p.m. that day, Tudor said.

The district will send out announcements and parent alerts closer to the event, Tudor said.

Tudor emphasized when done safely the solar eclipse offers a tremendous learning opportunity, and the letter he will send out to parents will include information on district resources for using it educationally.

New master facilities plan to be before board by end of year

Tudor also told the board he anticipates bringing a new master facilities plan "in great detail" before the board at the end of the calendar year "at the earliest."

A new proposal could be submitted to voters in the November 2024 or May 2025 election.

"We don't want to go too fast," to allow "plenty of time" for discussion, which has been very productive, he said.

Feedback has been sought through Town Hall and PTO meetings and surveys.

Surveys are still being distributed, with fliers posted throughout the city.

"We want to know what the community is thinking. We need to know what the community is thinking," said Board President Sue Herman.

The deadline for surveys to be submitted is Nov. 20.

The process continues to go well, Tudor said, adding, "There is no easy answer" to a facilities plan.

When he is ready to make a definitive presentation, it will be well publicized, he said.

Looking ahead at finances, giving the OK to easements

Treasurer Amy Welty gave a primer on school funding ahead of her five-year appropriations measure to be presented at the November meeting of the board.

Factors impacting homeowners' property taxes include the triennial update, which happened this year, and legislation pending at the state level.

Herman pointed out, "Our hands are tied" when it comes to decisions made at the state level.

The board approved easements for work on parcels adjacent to Milltown Road, where improvements including gutter work, widening of the road and a bike path will be made. It will also offer additional safe access to schools if another building is constructed there, Tudor said.

"I think this is a win for everyone," he said.

A number of policy items were approved on first reading, with the most noticeable one, Tudor said, being a change to the third-grade reading guarantee.

In the past, the third-grade reading guarantee meant third-grade students had to pass the state standardized reading test to be promoted to the fourth grade.

"The test is still there," Tudor said, but students who don't pass it may still be moved ahead.

They will be tutored with a reading improvement plan — "things we were already doing," he said.

It is much less stressful to everyone involved," Herman said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: No school April 8: Wooster closing schools on day eclipse happens