Balow approves school closures

On Sunday evening, Governor Mark Gordon and State Superintendent Jillian Balow issued a recommendation that all schools in Wyoming close until April 3 for the purpose of social distancing and to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) was among those who quickly followed that recommendation, announcing school closures throughout the district.

One of the questions that stemmed from Balow’s recommendation, however, was whether or not those days would need to be made-up later in the year or if it would extend the school year. According to Wyoming State Statute 21-13-307(a)(ii)(B), the state superintendent has the authority to approve school closures “to protect the health, safety or welfare of students, teachers and other employees.”

As of Monday night, Balow had informed all school district superintendents through a memo that she would approve all school closures on school calendar days between March 16 and April 3.

“In an effort to grant school districts maximum flexibility in responding to these challenges, I am exercising my authority … to hold districts harmless from daily proportional reduction of block grant funding due to school closures,” wrote Balow. “This waiver will reduce the 185 days of required operational days and the 175 required instructional days by the number of days that are currently calendared through April 3.”

It remains to be seen at this time if those days may be extended or if students will be able to return to school by April 3. Balow, however, advised school superintendents that she would continue to monitor and evaluate the situation “to determine if additional approvals are necessary.”