On April 8th, a Monday, there will be a solar eclipse during the afternoon. The majority of parents will pray for rain. But Livingston parents need not worry: the district school board and Superintendent Matthew Block have decided to make April 8th a half-day because “unless children are properly supervised, they could be drawn to look at the eclipse [which] can cause damage to their eyes.”

So advises the District Physician.

Yet with all the wealth in this town—the average house price is $900K and only one percent of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, the district can’t afford to buy everyone sunglasses?

Here is the letter from Superintendent Block, which just went out to parents:

Dear Livingston Public Schools Community:

Several community members have expressed concern about the solar eclipse that will occur on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2024, from approximately 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Since the eclipse will occur during our regularly scheduled school dismissal times, many of our students would be outside and unsupervised during the eclipse.

Unless children are properly supervised, they could be drawn to look at the eclipse, and would likely do so that day at dismissal. Without the proper equipment, this can cause damage to their eyes. We consulted with our District Physician, who echoed the abovementioned concern. Our physician added that the glare and distraction caused by the solar eclipse could also present a challenge with driving during this time, which might negatively impact the safety of our parents, staff, and bus drivers.

As a result of these health and safety considerations, the Livingston Board of Education approved a change to the 2023-2024 calendar at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 4, 2024 to modify Monday, April 8, 2024 from a regularly scheduled day to an early dismissal day. All outdoor activities on Monday, April 8, 2024 will be halted from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Lunch will not be served and students will be dismissed from school at the following times:
Elementary Schools: 12:00 pm
Mount Pleasant Middle School: 12:45 pm
Heritage Middle Schools: 12:45 pm
Livingston High School: 12:00pm
Please mark your calendars.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Matthew J. Block
Superintendent of Schools