Some Ohio school districts will close for the solar eclipse in April
An Ohio school district announced Thursday that it will close its doors for the total solar eclipse in April.
Middletown City School District, located in Southwest Ohio, will use a calamity day April 8, as Middletown is right along the eclipse's center line. The district said it made the decision per guidance from Southwest Ohio Disaster Services.
Other Butler County school districts are closing, too, including Madison Local Schools, Hamilton City School District and Monroe Local Schools.
This is the first time Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse since 1806, and the next one isn't expected until 2099, according to the state. For a few minutes that April afternoon, parts of Ohio will be submerged into total darkness as the moon crosses directly in front of the sun.
State leaders anticipate millions of tourists coming to Ohio to see the eclipse. Because the eclipse is scheduled during most school's dismissal times, Ohio's Department of Education and Workforce is encouraging districts to start planning now for heavy traffic and potential safety concerns.
But the eclipse also offers a "valuable learning opportunity for our students," Middletown's announcement reads. The school district will hand out solar eclipse glasses to students leading up to the event, so kids can experience the eclipse safely. Hamilton City Schools will hand out glasses, too.
Classes will resume as normal on Tuesday, April 9.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Solar eclipse 2024: Some Ohio schools plan to close April 8
