Next Monday afternoon, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross southern Illinois as it traverses the country, and some metro-east school districts are changing their instructional plans for the day.
A handful of metro-east districts that are near to or within the eclipse’s “path of totality” — the area where people can see the moon completely cover the sun — will be closed Monday.
Most others are operating as usual and organizing activities to engage students with the celestial phenomenon that won’t happen again in the contiguous United States until August 2044. Some school districts will have early release to avoid dismissing students during the eclipse.
School will be in session as normal for Belleville 201 students, Superintendent Brian Mentzer said, but the science departments at Belleville West and East high schools are working on activities for teachers and students to use the upcoming eclipse as a learning opportunity.
Similarly at Belleville 118, students will be in attendance as any other day, but the schools are planning viewing activities for students, faculty and staff, Superintendent Ryan Boike said.
In a March 22 email to all 118 families, Boike wrote: “Our schools are buzzing with anticipation as our dedicated educators plan individualized, in-school activities suitable for their unique environments. These activities are designed to offer a personalized and engaging exploration of the solar eclipse while ensuring the safety and comfort of our students.”
Parents must complete a permission slip to allow their child to participate in outdoor eclipse-viewing activities, and student absences Monday will be excused if a family decides to keep their child home to celebrate the eclipse or go on a trip to the path of totality.
District 118 schools will provide eclipse glasses that meet ISO standards to those who participate, and the district is asking parents to go over eclipse safety precautions with their child in advance regardless of whether their child will be participating in a viewing activity.
Likewise in other metro-east districts such as East St. Louis 189, Collinsville 10 and Red Bud 132, students will have regular school days and organized eclipse-related activities with glasses provided to students, faculty and staff.
This story was originally published in the Belleville News-Democrat.
