HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — As of Sunday afternoon, only two North Alabama schools are modifying schedules for Monday due to the total solar eclipse which will occur that afternoon.
In Fort Payne, officials are adjusting the usual schedule to ensure students and staff remain indoors during the scheduled eclipse viewing period. The following is a letter sent to parents on Friday, April 5:
Dear Parents and Staff,
Monday, April 8, 2024, is going to be an exciting day due to the "2024 Total Solar Eclipse".
Total Solar Eclipses over the US are rare, and the next event will not happen for 20 years. Here in Fort Payne, it is predicted that our visibility will be 80-90%, not total but very close. We have educators that have spent quite a bit of time over the past months preparing to safely allow students to experience this event with glasses that meet the transmission requirements for direct observation of the sun. I appreciate their work in planning for this event and their desire to allow students to safely view the event firsthand. Unfortunately, nothing is perfect. I cannot guarantee that all students will wear the glasses in the prescribed manner or that some unforeseen occurrence might happen. So, to err on the side of safety, we will watch the eclipse in the classroom on the Promethean boards. We will educate the students and staff about the event and its dangers. We will make sure outside classes or activities are adjusted so that children are not outside during the eclipse and keep students away from places where the sun is in their line of sight. Because of the timing, we will not release school until 3: 17. Each school will be instructed to post their bell schedule to accommodate this one-time change.
If you, as a parent/guardian, would like to check your child out of school on this day, it will be an excused absence. If you desire to keep your child at home on this day to experience the event together, it will also be an excused absence.
I, along with all Fort Payne City School Personnel, and the Fort Payne Board of Education want to provide our children with the best educational experience possible, but at the same time keep them as safe as possible. In order to do this on Monday, I feel we must stay inside during this historic event.
Thank you for your understanding concerning this matter.
Sincerely,
Brian Jett, Superintendent, Fort Payne City Schools
Meanwhile, in Scottsboro, officials have decided to release schools early to make sure buses and students won't be on the road during the eclipse. The following is a letter sent to parents the afternoon of Friday, April 5, 2024, regarding school schedules for Monday, April 8.
Dear Parents:
Scottsboro City Schools will dismiss early on Monday, April 8, 2024, due to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. While this is going to be an exciting day and a rare educational opportunity for students, it poses several safety concerns that we unfortunately cannot control. The reasons for this decision are as follows:
- The timing of this event is between 12:40 p.m. and 3:17 p.m. with the peak viewing time around 2:00 p.m. Unfortunately, we are unable to make modifications that would impact our daily bus schedules. This means that K-6 students will wear the glasses in the prescribed manner or that they will keep them on throughout their bus trip home. This would also impact our drivers who would be required to drive in the solar eclipse time frame.
- Transitions to technical education courses, dual enrollment courses, and extracurricular activities also occur during this time frame. We cannot guarantee that all students will wear the glasses in the prescribed manner or that they will keep them on throughout their bus ride. This would also impact our drivers who would be required to drive within the solar eclipse time frame.
- There are existing extra-curricular activities hosted by other school systems that parents may be asked to allow their student to travel to participate in following the eclipse window. These activites may be postponed or canceled, but that is at the discretion of the host school.
The early release for Scottsboro City Schools is as follows:
- Elementary Students (Nelson, Caldwell, and Collins) will be dismissed at 11 a.m.
- Secondary Students (SJHS and SHS) will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m.
If you would like to have your child watch the eclipse online, you may use the following link for viewing https://plus.nasa.gov/banner/2024-total-solar-eclipse-through-the-eyes-of-nasa/. Please stress with your child the importance of protecting their eyes while viewing this rare event. Total Solar Eclipses are rare and the next event will not happen for 20 years!
We understand that this dismissal may not be convenient or favorable for everyone, but this decision has not been made lightly and the safety of all students is our utmost priority. Thank you for your support of Scottsboro City Schools.
Very respectfully,
(signed)
Amy Childress
Superintendent