SOLAR ECLIPSE: Should parents worry about kids’ safety at school?

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — We’re less than a week away from the solar eclipse. A rare event that will be happening right when some year-round students are getting out of school in our area.

That has parents concerned.

Some New Hanover County year-round schools release at 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. which is right before the peak of the solar eclipse.

According to the New Hanover County Board of Education, they are warning principals and teachers to be careful if they want the children to experience it because looking at the eclipse can damage your vision.

However, there are no plans to let out early or other mandates set up.

“We would love for our children to be able to experience it,” Deputy Superintendent Rick Holliday said. “But everyone’s going to have to exercise caution. Whether you are in school or whether you’re at the mall, you’re going to have to exercise caution and do what the experts tell us to do. But we really want people to be able to experience this.”

Holliday says some schools have plans for the eclipse but not all have the special glasses available for it.

Also, no word on precautions for students walking to their buses or car pick up line during the eclipse.