Austin ISD parents, students share once in a lifetime moment during a solar eclipse

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Diana Briggs was not sure about her kids going to school for the solar eclipse. Her family is obsessed with astronomy. They talked about the rare event for weeks.

“They’ve been checking the weather every day,” Briggs said.

But Austin Independent School District said it wasn’t excusing absences for the eclipse. District officials said they wanted it to be an educational experience for students and staff.

The district’s average daily attendance was around 61% on the eclipse day. Briggs’ kids were counted in that number.

“I was going to keep them home, but Ms. Olano, our principal, planned this really special day for everyone.”

Briggs volunteered at her kids’ school, Reilly Elementary, to experience the eclipse with them. Her husband drove over to join her during his lunch break.

More than 300 students and 100 parents gathered in the grassy field behind Reilly Elementary to watch the solar eclipse. The school partnered with PBS Austin staff, who counted down to totality over a loudspeaker and signaled that people should put on their glasses.

On a day when students would normally be in class and parents at work, they lay together in the grass as the clouds cleared and showed peaks at the rare sight. Music played as the air got colder, the sky darkened, and small kids began screaming, jumping, and dancing.

“I am so happy they were all here,” Briggs said. “The darkness was crazy, right? The wind. It got colder. Yeah, I loved it.”

Photojournalist Jordan Belt contributed to this report.