(WNY News Now) – JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – The Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education approved an adjustment to the 2023-24 instructional calendar during its Jan. 23 meeting, making Monday, April 8 a Superintendent’s Conference Day with no student attendance. The decision was made following guidance regarding the expected influx of tourists and visitors to Chautauqua County due to the Total Solar Eclipse that is scheduled to happen that day around the time of dismissal.
“With winter weather conditions expected to continue throughout the weeks ahead and the limited number of ‘snow days’ that we have allotted, we have been hesitant to cancel that day of school outright so as to not affect any other scheduled days off,” said Dr. Kevin Whitaker, JPS Superintendent. “As the county is expecting a large number of visitors to our area and with totality expected to begin around the time of dismissal, our hope is that this decision will help keep our students and staff as safe as possible.”
April 8 had been the first scheduled day back to school for students following the Spring Recess, which is April 1-5. The district has purchased a number of eclipse glasses that will be passed out to students and staff prior to the break.
According to NASA, viewing any part of the bright Sun without proper protection can instantly cause severe eye injury. Solar eclipse glasses are about 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses and block nearly all visible light as well as all infrared and ultraviolet light. The district encourages
families not to look directly at the sun during the eclipse without use of these specialized glasses.
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