Cincinnati Public Schools won't have classes the Monday after the Super Bowl so staff and students can "celebrate what we believe will be our city's first-ever Super Bowl victory," officials wrote to families Monday afternoon.
Ross Local Schools and Roger Bacon High School have also called off school on Feb. 14, with other school leaders leaving hints that they may do the same.
School closures explained: What is an NTI day? A calamity day?
The CPS announcement came after board member Mike Moroski tweeted that he had put in a request to have Feb. 14 off for staff and students.
"I think it's pretty super likely," Moroski told The Enquirer Monday morning. "It's kind of a no-brainer I think."
Moroski said the district typically has Super Bowl Monday off for students, but when the NFL changed its schedule this year the district's off days did not align with Super Bowl weekend.
But his request became reality Monday afternoon when CPS administrators sent out a districtwide message to families and staff, complete with the Bengals "Who Dey" chant: ""Who Dey! Who Dey! Who Dey Think Gonna Beat Dem Bengals? Nooooobody!"
"We hope that you enjoy Roaring the Bengals to a win on Sunday and take this time to take pride in our incredible city and amazing football team," the message reads.
Roger Bacon High School pulled the trigger Sunday night, within an hour of the Bengals' win against the Kansas City Chiefs that set them on the road to the Super Bowl: no school on Super Bowl Monday.
Principal Steven Schad wrote a note to families and the St. Bernard-based school posted the announcement to Twitter . Soon after, other teachers, parents and students from neighboring school districts started asking if they'd get the same celebratory day off.
Ross Local School District Superintendent Chad Konkle also tweeted Monday that his district will use a calamity day on Feb. 14 "in celebration of the Cincinnati Bengals advancing to the Super Bowl."
Monroe Superintendent Robert Buskirk was tagged in a similar request Sunday night, and responded with: "Hmmmm..."
Buskirk did not immediately respond to The Enquirer Monday morning.
Sycamore Schools and Mason City Schools superintendents Chad Lewis and Jonathan Cooper have also hinted at possible Super Bowl Monday closures on social media.
"Hope for large snow storms," Lewis wrote on Twitter.
Other districts were a bit cooler to the idea.
"The superintendent is focused on our academic plan; however, we are very excited for the Bengals," Winton Woods spokesperson Corina Denny said when asked about a Super Bowl Monday school cancelation.
"Our district has yet to discuss any plans regarding Monday, Feb. 14. However, today was 'Wear Your Bengals' Gear' day throughout the district, and there are discussions about similar style spirit days for next week leading up to the Super Bowl. WHO DEY!!" Springboro Schools spokesperson Scott Marshall wrote.
Lebanon schools superintendent Isaac Seevers said he's not planning to close that Monday.
"We are excited for the Bengals and we understand that many of our staff and students will likely stay up late watching the game on the 13th," Seevers wrote in a statement to The Enquirer. "As we do with all school closing decisions, we must be cognizant of the fact that there are students and families in our district who rely on a regular school schedule and the services provided to students while at school. We will evaluate this decision as we get closer to the 14th and will consider all of the relevant information."
Officials from Fairfield City Schools said they are not discussing canceling school the day after the Super Bowl.
Other districts, including Lakota and Boone County schools, are waiting to make a decision.
"With the Super Bowl two weeks away, I don’t have an answer for you," Lakota Local Schools director of communications Betsy Fuller wrote.
LaSalle High School principal Aaron Mitchell tweeted that if students at the Green Township school "answer the call to serve this week", they could have the 14th off.
The Enquirer is awaiting official comment on Super Bowl Monday closures from several school districts including Forest Hills, Kenton County, Mason, Middletown, Monroe and Princeton.
This story will be updated.
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