Two Centre County School Districts Plan Early Dismissals for Solar Eclipse

The 2017 solar eclipse seen above State College. Photo by Matt Sniegowski | Onward State

Two Centre County school districts will dismiss students early on April 8 because of the total solar eclipse.

Superintendents of State College Area and Philipsburg-Osceola Area school districts explained the decisions were made for safety reasons because the eclipse will occur during student dismissal times.

The eclipse will occur between 2:04 p.m. to 4:32 p.m, with the maximum eclipse in central Pennsylvania at about 3:20 p.m. Centre County is expected to be in the 95 percent coverage area, just outside the path of totality.

State College Area students will be dismissed two hours early because the district “would not be able to ensure that our students refrained from observing the eclipse without protection,” superintendent Curtis Johnson wrote. After-school activities will be canceled until 5:30 p.m. and the CEEL program also will be canceled that afternoon.

“We understand the early dismissal may cause inconvenience, but prioritizing the well-being of our students is our highest concern,” Johnson wrote.

Philipsburg-Osceola Area will dismiss students at 1 p.m.

“Some sources recommend not driving during an eclipse for various safety reasons, including the prospect of distracted drivers looking at the eclipse and not seeing other vehicles or pedestrians (such as students at bus stops),” superintendent Daniel Potutschnig wrote.

He added that appropriate eye protection needed to safely view the eclipse may restrict a driver’s field of vision.

“These safety issues are not only concerns for our bus drivers and school staff, but also for our students who drive to and from school,” Potutschnig wrote.

Looking directly at an eclipse can cause permanent eye damage, and special safety glasses or eclipse viewers are needed.

Penn State’s Eberly College of Science and the State College Spikes will distribute free safety glasses at the SolarFest eclipse event scheduled for noon to 4:40 p.m. on April 8 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Admission to the event is free.