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Schools taking precautions ahead of solar eclipse

LEECHBURG, Pa. — The eclipse is days away and a lot of people stocked up on special glasses to safely watch the solar event.

But some schools are taking precautions, afraid students might try to peek up at the sun without the proper protection.

So rather than children watching the phenomenon at school or day care with friends, they won't be watching it at all.

“The day of the eclipse we want to make sure safety is our first priority for the children,” said Charlize Rachel with Appleseed Learning Center in Leechburg.

Thousands of people are hitting the roads to be in the peak position to watch the first solar eclipse in decades.

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But here in western Pennsylvania, some schools and day cares are concerned about the safety of students during this event.

“We will be keeping children downstairs on our basement level and that way they'll be protected from any of the sun as the eclipse is happening,” Rachel said.

Appleseed Learning Center in Leechburg is changing its plans that day and keeping students indoors.

They are moving children into the basement where the only window points away from the sun.

The concern is students trying to watch the eclipse could look at the sun and hurt their eyes.

“You only get two eyes, why take any chances?” Rachel said.

The day care isn't the only school taking precautions.

South Fayette School District decided to delay the start of classes by one day.

The district came to the decision Tuesday night saying, "we are keeping our students' best interest at heart with this decision."

The eclipse is expected to be at its most observable Monday around 2:30 p.m.

But students at Appleseed Learning Center won't experience it first-hand, instead watching it on television.

Even though Pittsburgh is not in the direct path of the eclipse, Channel 11 is making sure you have a safe way to watch the event if you decide to stay indoors.

Next Monday, Channel 11 will live stream the eclipse here: