CLEVELAND — In a letter addressed to families, staff and partners, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has announced it will be closed on Monday, April 8, in recognition of the total solar eclipse.

Cleveland is in the path of totality of this eclipse, a cosmic phenomenon in which the moon crosses in front of our view of the sun, obscuring its light and darkening the sky. The eclipse in Cleveland will reach it’s point of totality at 3:13 p.m. for only about four minutes.

The once-in-a-lifetime astrological event is expected to draw massive crowds looking for prime viewing locations.

In the school district’s letter, it notes the timing of the period of totality occurring around dismissal, causing potential complications. It also notes complications as a result of the heavy traffic on roadways. Additionally, it also referenced concerns regarding cell phone service, due to the mass of people in the area.

The district hopes its students, families and employees are able to see the event on their day off, and they may actually have a way to help with that.

“We hope that students, families, educators, and others can use this time to truly enjoy such a unique event,” the letter reads. “In this spirit, the District has received – through the generosity of NASA Glenn Research Center and the NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate, with the support of Mayor Justin Bibb and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown – a donation of a pair of eclipse glasses for every CMSD scholar! Our Operations team has received these glasses and they will be delivered to our schools for distribution to scholars in the coming weeks.”