Local school districts hold special meetings to discuss impact of potential closures

PASCO, Wash.-- The Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland School Boards have scheduled emergency meetings to discuss plans in the event that Gov. Jay Inslee orders schools to close state-wide.

On Thursday, Inslee ordered the closure of schools in King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties for six weeks starting next week in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The Pasco School Board has scheduled an emergency meeting for Friday evening to discuss a contingency plan in the event that local school districts are asked close. Their meeting is at 6:30pm, and will be livestreamed on the district's YouTube channel.

The Richland School Board and district administrators plan to hold emergency meetings on Friday to discuss when and how to close schools in response to the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The district is asking families to start making childcare plans in the event that schools close with short notice and for an indefinite period of time.

The Kennewick School District plans to meet Friday at 5:30pm at its district office on W. 4th Ave.

The Benton-Franklin Health District has not recommended any school closures in Benton or Franklin Counties. However, at a Friday morning press conference, they did recommend cancelling any school activities involving more than 250 people, and any activities that would require students to travel outside of the Tri-Cities, or into the Tri-Cities from other areas.