Manatee schools debating what to do about eclipse viewing

When the moon slips between the sun and the earth around midday on Aug. 21, those in Manatee County wearing special solar eclipse glasses can safely experience a partial eclipse.

But since this rare celestial event will occur during the school day, the Manatee County School District is still debating what to do to make sure all 50,000 children under its care are safe from physical harm, school district spokesman Mike Barber said Monday.

If viewers look at the sun’s halo without the glasses it can injure the sensitive tissue in their eyes, optical experts warn.

Manatee schools will be open on Aug. 21, but a policy needs to be set regarding viewing of the event, Barber added.

“We are finalizing our position on the eclipse and discussing it as a district,” Barber said. “One issue certainly is, ‘How do you make sure everyone is safe?’ ”

For solar eclipse glasses to be effective, they must meet the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO safety standards, listed as 12312-2 to protect eyes.

The school district has not purchased the ISO 12312-2 glasses, Barber said.

“We will not be providing safety glasses,” Barber added.

The district is concerned that if some teachers take their children outside with safety glasses the teacher has provided or the students have purchased, what if those glasses turn out to substandard or if some children lack the glasses?

Recalls of some eclipse glasses that might not meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standards were reported on Monday by retailer Amazon.com.

There are school districts around the nation that are closing out of abundant caution, but most of those are in the path of totality. A school district in Edwardsville, Ill. announced that it was closing that day because it didn’t want to dismiss its students during the event.

A dearth of glasses

Just finding a pair of ISO 12312-2 glasses ahead of the eclipse has become difficult in Manatee County.

Three Bradenton Walmart stores on Monday revealed that they were all sold out and will probably not be replacing them.

“It was a one-time item,” a Walmart employee said.

Lowe’s Home Improvement at 4012 14th St. W. ran out last week, an employee said.

Walgreens and CVS store employees indicated they did not have any. A tip that some 7-Elevens might have some could not be confirmed.

Manatee County Libraries did receive a grant for 1,000 glasses but has handed out so many that it just has a small amount left, and they’re being saved for its Pre-Solar Eclipse Party 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Palmetto Library, 923 Sixth St. W., Palmetto, according to Kelly Foster, marketing coordinator for Manatee Libraries.

But the public is invited to pick them up for free during the party while supplies last, Foster added.

This story was originally published August 14, 2017 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Manatee schools debating what to do about eclipse viewing."