Solar Eclipse 2017: Tampa Bay Area Schools Set Plans

LAND O’ LAKES, FL — Tampa Bay area school districts are gearing up for Monday’s solar eclipse in their own ways. While most are planning to limit outdoor activities during the afternoon hours, some are giving parents a free pass to keep their kids home with their absences excused.

Monday, Aug. 21 marks the first time in decades a solar eclipse will be visible across the entire continental United States. While Florida isn’t in the path of the total eclipse, Sunshine State residents can expect a near-total eclipse to darken skies for several hours. The celestial event is expected to start around 1:15 p.m. and continue until about 4:15 p.m. It is estimated the Tampa Bay area will experience a 60 to 80 percent solar eclipse.

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Even during an eclipse, it is extremely dangerous to look directly at the sun. Doing so can cause permanent damage to the eyes. This is one of the concerns that has parents and school districts making plans for student safety during the eclipse. Here’s a look at what districts across the Tampa Bay area have planned for Monday, Aug. 21:

Pasco County Schools

Schools across the district will run on their normal schedules on Monday. Elementary schools will not have lessons outdoors, but some secondary schools might.

“All outdoor eclipse lessons will use proper safety procedures,” the district reported on its website. “All participants must use solar viewers verified to be compliant with the ISO 12312-2 International Safety Standard.” For kids to take part in these activities, parents must fill out permission slips.

• See also: Get Your NASA-Approved Solar Eclipse Glasses Before It's Too Late

The district intends to hold all normal outdoor activities, such as recess and physical education classes, indoors on Monday during the hours of 1:15 and 4:15 p.m.

Parents who would prefer to pick their children up early or keep them at home are being told the absences will be considered excused if a note is provided by the parent.

To find out more, visit the district online.

Hillsborough County Schools

The district plans to conduct classes as normal on Monday with schools encouraged to take advantage of the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for science learning.”

All school-sponsored activities and after-school activities set for the hours of 1:15 and 4:15 p.m. will take place inside unless the activities relates to an eclipse lesson. Safety procedures must be followed, the district said.

For more information, visit the district online.

Pinellas County Schools

The school district is holding classes as normal on Monday. It is recommending that its students, staff and faculty members view the eclipse via NASA’s live feed. Parents are also urged to talk to their kids about the dangers of looking into the sun.

“Parents are asked to use an abundance of caution while driving during the time of the eclipse, and to be especially careful in the parent pickup areas at schools to avoid distracted drivers, students and pedestrians,” the district’s website said. “Regular dismissal will not be affected. “

For more information, visit the district online.

Polk County

The district intends to hold classes as normal but is moving its outdoor activities indoors between the hours of 1:15 and 4:30 p.m. Dismissal times will not be affected, the district said.

The district is urging caution to prevent damage to the eyes and is asking parents and bus drivers to be very careful to avoid pedestrians and other motorists who might be distracted by the celestial event.

Parents who wish to keep their children home on Monday are being advised they may do so. Absences will be excused.

To find out more, visit the district’s website.

Manatee County

Classes in Manatee County schools will take place as normal on Monday. The district does plan to move outdoor activities inside between the hours of 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Parents are asked to take the time to talk to their kids in advance of the eclipse about the dangers posed by looking directly into the sun.

Dismissal, the district says, will not be affected by the eclipse, but kids will be held inside until buses or cars arrive.

To find out more, check out the district’s website.

Sarasota County

The district plans to hold classes as normal on Monday. Outdoor activities will be moved inside between the hours of 1:15 and 4:15 p.m. The only exceptions are approved eclipse activities. Students must have signed permission slips to take part in outdoor eclipse-related lessons.

Parents who wish to pick up their kids before the eclipse may do so, the district noted in an email to media. The absences will be considered excused.

To find out more, visit the district online.

Find out where to watch the eclipse in Tampa Bay and Central Florida by checking out this story.

Image via NASA