Windsor-Essex's two English-language school boards have made a decision concerning classes on the day of an upcoming total solar eclipse.
According to a memo shared with WindsorNewsToday.ca, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) announced Friday afternoon it will hold a half-day of classes on Monday, April 8.
Students from the board's elementary and secondary schools will be dismissed at 1 p.m. "out of an abundance of caution". Teachers and staff will work the entire day as usual.
The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) followed suit with the same announcement later Friday afternoon.
The memo also said that buses will run normally on the morning of April 8, but will not run in the afternoon. Parents should make arrangements early to have their children picked up.
The boards said they considered moving one of their PA days to April 8, as some other Ontario boards have decided to do, but some factors made it impractical.
"Due to contractual obligations, previously-scheduled commitments, and issues surrounding transportation, which is shared between local school boards, this was not a workable solution," read the memos sent out by both boards.
Astronomers have reported that southwestern Ontario will see a total eclipse on April 8, with the event roughly between 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The boards said the dismissal is for safety reasons, as looking directly at the sun during a total eclipse without special eye protection is extremely dangerous. Almost total darkness is also likely.