Plans are being put into place by all of the Mahoning Valley local school districts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

TV 21 found out local school districts have met with their county health departments for some direction at a time when so much is still unknown.

Hubbard Schools have cancelled all non-essential activities and the Youngstown Schools have suspended all district-related travel. So districts are beginning to put a plan in place -- in case a prolonged closure of the schools is necessary.

So exactly who makes the decision about if a school district should close for an extended period, say for example 15 days in the Mahoning Valley because of the coronavirus depends on a number of factors.

Traci Hostetler is the Superintendent of the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, "Districts have that individual control. But our county health departments will get a directive from the State of Ohio. The Health Department, as to whether or not regions or districts or the county should close."

Hostetler tells me the plan for any possible closure of K thru 12 schools is being approached from a number of different angles because not every child has access to a computer at home.

"We talked with local Superintendents who talked about utilizing a full on-line curriculum for two to three weeks. Some of the Superintendents are going to use a hybrid. So the older kids -- middle school to high school might have some technology, but the younger kids might be paper and pencil. Even others are thinking it could be a choice by family. Maybe some families don't have internet access," Hostetler said.

If a school has to close because of the coronavirus, the Mahoning County ESC says there are ways to make up the time.

Hostetler confirms that they could look at extending the school year, but it would have to be done by the legislature.

Governor DeWine says he will work with school districts to waive testing requirements if it comes to that, so school administrators should not be concerned about that.

When it comes to Trumbull County Schools, every the ESC and each school has information on the front page of their web site.

Canfield and Poland Schools will close on Friday for staff to prepare for alternative instruction just in case.