SCS to be Closed April 8, Day of Solar Eclipse

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie Central School will be closed on Monday, April 8, in conjunction with the historic solar eclipse that will impact a large part of the country.

District officials said that because the eclipse will occur at the end of the school day and partly coincide with dismissal, the district is opting to not be in session. The path of totality will be just a short distance away in the Adirondacks and Western New York. Even though Schoharie County is not in the path of totality, the eclipse will be more than 90 percent complete here.

Officials noted that the event, the first total solar eclipse in New York in nearly 100 years, will likely be a "spectacle," which could lead to people having their eyes on the sky and not the roadways while our school buses are on the road and when students and staff would normally be on their way home. In addition, "we wish to give students an opportunity to safely view the eclipse with the proper precautions in place, instead of attempting to view it while in transit or in school.

"We encourage students and families to learn about how to safely view the eclipse."

For the first time in nearly 100 years, there will be a total eclipse of the sun visible in New York State on April 8.

At their February board meeting, district officials said they were considering a half-day for students on April 8.

Of course, viewers should never look at a solar eclipse without special eyewear. Even though Schoharie County and the Capital District will not be in the path of the total eclipse, astronomers said the eclipse in Albany will be a deep partial (with magnitude 96.6 percent at its height.

The eclipse will begin around 2:10pm on April 8. The total eclipse will end around 3:20pm and the partial eclipse will end around 4:30pm.

Solar eclipses in New York, or even the United States, are not an every day occurrence. The last total solar eclipse in New York was in 1925. The next total solar eclipse in the United States will be 2045. The next total solar eclipses in New York will be in 2079 and 2144.

For more on the April 8 eclipse, please visit: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/

For more on how to safely view the eclipse, please visit: How to observe the sun safely (and what to look for).