The Powell school board will hold a special meeting Thursday night to discuss and approve employee leave and compensation during the COVID-19 school closure.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the School Administration Building, 160 N. Evarts St. in Powell.

Earlier this week, Park County School District No. 1 closed schools and canceled all school-related activities until April 3, with plans to launch a digital/hybrid learning plan beginning Thursday, March 26.

Gov. Mark Gordon and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow had recommended school closures in Wyoming through at least April 3.

Balow is exploring her ability to hold districts harmless from any financial reduction as a result of this loss of instructional days. In addition, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow schools to offer student meals during school closures (see related story).

The Wyoming State Board of Education said it will work to support Balow and the department “to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 to our education system.”

“For many communities and families, our public schools serve as an integral support to their daily lives,” state board leaders wrote in a Tuesday news release. “Besides a quality education, many students receive meals, counseling services, and a consistent safe-structured environment.”

Board leaders said they would support efforts as “our communities set up to assist our families in this unprecedented time of need.”

The Department of Education has a resource page available at edu.wyoming.gov/educators/covid-19-resources.