DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — There are more than 100,000 students in DeKalb County schools and about 20,000 staff members. On April 8, the day of the Great American Solar Eclipse, none of those people will be in class.
That's because earlier this week, the district announced it will observe an “independent” learning day. It's a decision that has left parents like Alyson Ackerman a little annoyed.
“I was a little upset when I got the notification that this was going to happen,” Ackerman told 11Alive.
Ackerman has two elementary-aged children and is planning to have family drive in to take care of them while she works, but she’s concerned about other families who don’t have that option.
“This also puts many parents in that same position where they are now forced to try to take off work and forgo wages so they can be at home with their kids on a day that wasn’t previously scheduled,” Ackerman explained.
The district is responding to the backlash in an emailed statement to 11Alive, saying partially: “The independent learning day would also ensure students and staff are not on the roads and highways during the time of the eclipse, which is expected to begin at 1:45 p.m. and end at 4:21 p.m., during dismissal time for DCSD schools.”
But, other parents aren’t buying it.
One parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, sent 11Alive a letter she sent to the district’s superintendent.
“The eclipse has been a known event for a LONG time, making this decision at this late date is inconsiderate at best," she wrote. "If the safety concerns are really that severe, I can only wonder why other school districts have not made the same call.”
Cobb County Schools also will be out April 8, 2024 for the eclipse, but the district made the decision back in July.
Ackerman said she agrees and is now questioning the people who made this call.
“It’s that leadership that really needs to be thinking if this is something that is really important,” Ackerman said.