SAN ANTONIO — One of the largest districts in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area has decided to give students and staff the day off for the solar eclipse in April.
Comal ISD announced Friday it will provide students and staff a day off Monday, April 8. District officials said in a statement from the superintendent that two-thirds of the district is in the path of totality of the eclipse.
It's being called the "Great American Eclipse" for its path through the United States. It will be the last total solar eclipse for decades. Nearly four and a half minutes of daytime darkness will overtake some Texas Hill Country and western San Antonio communities during the astronomical phenomenon—the longest period of eclipse anywhere in the country.
The Comal ISD statement also said, with one million people expected to descend on Texas to view the eclipse, they are concerned about transporting students safely to and from schools. The district is stretched over multiple high-traffic highways including I-35, Highway 46, Highway 281 and FM 306.
The district made the decision after consulting with teacher and parent representatives. They have not had to use any bad weather days this year, so there are reportedly enough minutes in the calendar that the off-day will not need to be made up later in the semester.
Comal ISD joins three other school districts in the area in closing that day. Kerrville ISD, Comfort ISD and Boerne ISD have also announced they will close.
Please reach out to your students' district for plans for April 8 if they are not listed in this article.