Ozark students may be kept inside during solar eclipse

Parents in Ozark will not know until Monday morning if their children will have to stay inside during the once-in-lifetime solar eclipse.

The 5,800-student district notified families on Facebook — and with phone calls — Sunday evening that its order of glasses had not yet arrived.

"We expected to get them in Friday and they didn't come," he said. "They simply haven't gotten here."

Patterson said the district ordered an estimated 7,000 NASA-approved glasses weeks ago only to find out they had been recalled due to the earpiece design.

"We've been working with Amazon for the last few weeks to get the glasses for our students," he said.

Patterson said when the safe replacement glasses did not arrive by Friday, as promised, they grew worried.

He said the district has been working closely with the Ozark postmaster and will be notified Monday if the shipment arrives. 

Assistant Superintendent Craig Carson said the shipment was not sent overnight, as promised. It was sent by priority mail instead.

"As of this afternoon, the glasses are still in transit and we are unsure if they will arrive in time for outdoor activities tomorrow," Carson said, in a message to parents. "We are doing everything we can to work with the post office, but have received very little information on the current location of the shipment."

If the shipment does not arrive in time, students will be able to watch it indoors through a live feed.

Carson vowed to update parents and students Monday morning. The solar eclipse is expected to be visible in the Ozarks shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.

"Please accept our apologies for the situation," Carson said, in the message. "We have been looking forward to this event for the past month and we are extremely disappointed with this situation."

Patterson said he understands parents and students will also be frustrated.

"It's awful. I hate it. I can't say how much I hate it," he said.  "I am just crushed."