Superintendent Missus Hunt announced at the Canal Winchester Local Schools board meeting on Feb. 12 that the district will close schools on Monday, April 8, 2024, so students, staff and families may safely view the solar eclipse.

Hunt said the district expects only a partial eclipse locally but cited two reasons for closure: the safety risk of young students looking at the sun while on buses and the prospect of unusually heavy traffic as people travel to areas of totality. "Although we will only experience a partial eclipse here in the Columbus area our youngest students may still be on the buses during the start of the eclipse," Hunt said, adding that the district cannot ensure students will not look at the sun while in transit.

Hunt also noted the timing of the event immediately after spring break and that many nearby communities will see totality, increasing travel and traffic pressure. She said the district will still meet the required instructional hours for the year. The superintendent said families will receive the formal announcement the following day.

The decision follows district discussion of safety measures and opportunities for student and family participation. Hunt said the district will "look into" ways students could learn about the eclipse or experience it safely, including investigating grants or programs that could provide protective eclipse glasses or supervised viewing opportunities.

The closure is an administrative decision announced to the board during the superintendent’s report; the board did not record a separate roll-call vote on the closure in open session.