With an eye on safety — and education — school systems in Northeast Georgia are planning to alter their schedules Aug. 21, when a total solar eclipse will darken the skies for approximately two minutes around 2:30 p.m. in the area.
The schools listed below will be altering their schedules or procedures in some way during that time. Please note changes have been made to this list since AccessWDUN first published it on July 28, 2017.
Parents are still advised to double-check with their local schools to ensure times and rules are accurate, as they are subject to change. This list will be updated as new information becomes available.
- Banks County — All schools will be closed Aug. 21
- Barrow County — Delay release for about 30 minutes.
- Commerce — There will be no delay, but school officials are planning to distribute glasses for safe viewing of the event. Additionally, any child who is checked out of school to attend an event related to the eclipse will be considered "excused," according to Superintendent Dr. Joy Tolbert.
- Dawson County — Schools will operate on an early release schedule, according to Superintendent, Dr. Damon Gibbs.
- Forsyth County — All school dismissals will be delayed by 40 minutes.
- Franklin County - All schools will be closed Aug. 21. (Initially Franklin County had planned to use the day as an education opportunity, but the eclipse viewing glasses purchased by the school system for students were non-compliant.)
- Gainesville — Dismissal will be delayed by one hour for each school, and all extracurricular activities will happen after the designated dismissal times. To make up for the extra hour, schools will release two hours early on Dec. 15.
- Gwinnett County — All school dismissals will be delayed one hour.
- Habersham County — All schools will be closed Aug. 21.
- Hall County — School dismissal will be delayed by one hour for each school, and all extracurricular activities will happen after the designated dismissal times. Schools will release two hours early on Dec. 15 to make up the time.
- Jackson County — Elementary and high school dismissal delayed until 3:15 p.m., middle school until 3:35. Students will be kept inside "out of an abundance of caution" during the eclipse.
- Jefferson City — School is providing certified eye glasses to all students, but officials were "still working out a schedule" as of Aug. 3.
- Lumpkin County — Schools will operate on an early release schedule, and eclipse glasses will be purchased for all students and staff. Students at each school may sign up for an eclipse field trip, with a location still to be determined.
- North Georgia Technical College — All classes on all campuses will be closed Aug. 21.
- Rabun County — All schools will be closed Aug. 21.
- Stephens County — All schools will be closed Aug. 21.
- Towns County - All schools will be closed Aug. 21.
- Union County - All schools will be closed Aug. 21.
- White County — All schools will be closed Aug. 21.
- University of North Georgia — All classes on all campuses will be canceled starting at noon.
Courtesy: National Weather Service
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/8/564102/local-schools-to-alter-schedules-for-solar-eclipse-aug-21