Livingston schools will close early on April 8 to avoid any danger to students and families from the solar eclipse, according to a letter Superintendent Matthew J. Block sent home to families Wednesday.
The Essex County school district’s four schools will dismiss at noon or 12:45 p.m., hours before the eclipse, so students are not tempted to look directly at the sun without protective eyewear during their usual dismissal time, the superintendent said.
“Since the eclipse will occur during our regularly scheduled school dismissal times, many of our students would be outside and unsupervised during the eclipse,” Block wrote. “Unless children are properly supervised, they could be drawn to look at the eclipse, and would likely do so that day at dismissal. Without the proper equipment, this can cause damage to their eyes.”
The decision to close schools early got mixed reviews among some parents on social media.
One parent questioned the need for extra time off right after the schools had a week off for spring break, and said the eclipse “seems like a great science lesson rather than an excuse to send kids home early.”
Block did not immediately respond to a request to comment.
In New Jersey, the sun will be 90% blocked by the moon at about 3:25 p.m., according to TimeAndDate.com. Parts of the moon’s shadow will cover the sun from 2:09 p.m to 4:35 p.m.
NASA warned the public not to look at the eclipse without special safety glasses, to avoid eye damage. The agency also warned looking at the sun through “a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
Several community members “expressed concern about the solar eclipse” during the school dismissal time, Block said. School officials consulted the school district’s physician, who was also concerned the glare and distraction caused by the eclipse could make driving difficult for motorists after school dismissal.
The Livingston Board of Education revised its school calendar to switch to an early dismissal schedule at its Monday meeting. The elementary and high schools will end their day at noon, and the middle schools will dismiss at 12:45 p.m. Any outdoor school activities will be canceled from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Block said.
Rich Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, and Karen Bingert, executive director of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, said they had not heard of any other New Jersey school districts considering early dismissals on the day of the eclipse due to safety concerns.
However, many school districts in the section of upstate New York where there will be a total eclipse on April 8 are closing for the day due to traffic concerns and the expected presence of large numbers of tourists.
Dozens of school districts are closing for the day. They include Buffalo, the state’s second-largest school district, which is giving its 32,000 students the day off. Other districts, including Syracuse public schools, will have a half-day, SILive.com reports.
Stories by Tina Kelley
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com.