COVINGTON, Ga. - Newton County School System (NCSS) has been informed at the eleventh hour that the solar eclipse glasses ordered for all elementary school students to wear for the upcoming solar eclipse are not recommended for use per the supplier. NCSS ordered the glasses from Everything Branded last month and at that time, the company assured the school district the glasses were safe for use. Before placing the order, the school system required Everything Branded to supply an official statement certifying that the glasses had been tested and were ISO compliant. Everything Branded supplied the official testing documentation on July 26.

“I am angry and disappointed,” NCSS Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey said. “For weeks, we were assured by this company that the glasses were safe for wear. They guaranteed their product and provided documentation to verify that the eclipse glasses had been tested for ISO compliance. We spent several days sorting, counting and distributing the glasses to each of our elementary schools only to receive an email this Friday evening—after hours—stating the company could no longer recommend the use of their eclipse glasses. Our schools and teachers had big plans for our students and this company waited until after the close of business to notify us that we should not use the glasses. With the eclipse this Monday, this leaves us absolutely no time to make other arrangements to order and receive glasses for our students.

“I’m disappointed for the children, many of whom were looking forward to viewing the eclipse with their glasses. I’m also disturbed that this company put our children’s health and safety in jeopardy by providing glasses they assured us had been tested and were approved for use during the eclipse.”

Due to the late notice by the company, the school superintendent has reached out to all principals who received the glasses to notify them to refrain from distributing them to students. Students will be able to watch the solar eclipse via live stream instead.

“The company offered refunds to all customers but it’s not about the money; we haven’t paid for the order yet,”Fuhrey said. "I know our students will be disappointed but their safety is and always will be my number one concern.”