That’s why it’s critical that each school district across the state has the flexibility to implement plans that are tailored to their unique student population.”At a second evening briefing, Sisolak said that the state Department of Agriculture was working with education officials and school districts to resume the free-meal program for low-income students as soon as possible.“Rest assured our children who rely on these programs will not go hungry during this closure,” Sisolak said.The district announced soon afterward that free meals for CCSD students would be available for pick-up Monday at 15 sites throughout the Las Vegas Valley, with rural locations to be announced soon.Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus F. Jara, who also attended the earlier briefing at the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas, said officials were considering whether make-up days would be scheduled.CCSD does not have the capacity to offer online education, Jara said, though that may differ in other school districts across Nevada.A message to CCSD staff sent Sunday indicated that Monday would be a day off for all staff except essential personnel, who would be contacted by their supervisors.The message also said that administrators, support professionals and school police on the 11- and 12-month work calendars would be expected to report to work locations on Tuesday and throughout the closurJara said Sunday that the district would follow its bargaining agreements and that employees would be paid, with Sisolak also adding that school employees will receive specific directions from their schools.At Thursday’s School Board meeting, Jara said the school district had asked for guidance about how to pay groups such as substitutes, who are not paid when students aren’t in school.“Especially when considering that thousands of substitutes were affected by the (district payroll system) issues, which still haven’t been fixed, many will be facing the most difficult economic hardships of their lives,” said substitute Fernando Valenzuela.Trustee Danielle Ford, who had been calling for school closures much of the weekend, said the district still needed to address how it would handle paying substitutes, as well as whether principals would still need to report to work at their school sites, as outlined in their bargaining agreements.The decision to close came after Jara sent messages to parents as recently as Saturday that schools would be open on Monday, though he acknowledged that short-term closures were still on the table.Over the weekend, a petition to close schools reached over 60,000 signatures, while three unions representing district employees — the National Education Association of Southern Nevada, the Education Support Employees Association and the Clark County Education Association — all sent messages urging CCSD to explore a closure.John Vellardita, executive director of the Clark County Education Association, said Sunday that the union had advocated for the governor to intervene in the decision because it requires a commitment of resources to address issues like student services and employee pay.“This is not exclusively a school district issue,” Vellardita said. The Review-Journal continues to memorialize lives lost — you can help us.The fatalities surpassed the 29 reported on July 31 and on Friday to set a mark for the biggest single-day increase in the death toll since the outbreak began.The NTSB report details the July 30 crash, saying the aircraft involved were two Air Tractor AT-902A airplanes fighting the Bishop Fire near Elgin.Gov. Gov. That puts the state at a total of 1,030 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began. (James Schaeffer / Las Vegas Review-Journal)COVID-19 case reported at Legislature's special session - VideoA person who was inside the Nevada Legislature Building has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Brenda Erdoes said Friday, July 10. (Glenn Puit/Las Vegas Review-Journal)Coronavirus cases triple at Henderson nursing home - VIDEOThe number of residents with COVID-19 at Lake Mead Health & Rehabilitation in Henderson tripled overnight, according to state data.