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South Fayette District Delays Start Of School Year Due To Solar Eclipse

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ALLEGHENY COUNTY (KDKA) – Students of one western Pennsylvania school district will get an extra day of summer vacation, thanks to Monday's solar eclipse.

The new school year in the South Fayette Township School District has been pushed back to Tuesday.

School board members voted Tuesday night to push the start of the year back by one day due to "reviewed and considered information regarding the upcoming" solar eclipse.

Superintendent Bille Rondinelli sent a statement to parents saying, "In the best interest and for the safety of our students, the decision was made to delay the start of school by one day."

Rondinelli tells KDKA, "While keeping students indoors at recess time was an option, it is impossible to guarantee that children would not look directly at the sun during dismissal or during transport home."

The district will use Aug. 21 as an in-service day for staff and the day will be made up on April 27.

Rondinelli says the solar eclipse coincides with dismissal times for students.

District officials say they apologize for any inconvenience it causes parents, but the safety of students and staff is our number-one priority.

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