March 13, 2020 4:15 a.m.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced a statewide school closure for over two weeks beginning on Monday.
Brown pointed to staffing challenges and health concerns due to the public health threat of coronavirus. Brown said schools in the state will be closed through the end of the month.
Brown said “Schools are critical institutions that provide important services to all our students, but especially the most vulnerable”. She said “during this crisis I have worked hard to ensure those critical services continue”. Brown said so many families depend on school for parents to go to their jobs, and students to access health care and receive nutrition assistance.
The Governor said she had heard from superintendents, school board members, teachers, parents and students that it has now become impossible to functionally operate schools due to workforce issues and student absences. Brown said schools are experiencing critical shortages in staff, and superintendents are concerned for school personnel who are at elevated risk such as those over age 60 and those with underlying medical issues.
Brown said “I want to be very clear: sending Oregon children home will not stop the spread of the corona virus”. She said “while children are home, when at all possible, they should not be in the care of older adults or those with underlying health issues that are most at-risk from COVID-19”. Brown said it is a trying time for the state and she was reluctant to increase the burden on families who are already struggling to adapt and stay healthy during the health crisis. However, “we are left with little choice in light of school district’s staff capacity and operational concerns”.
Per the Governor’s directives:
*School districts are directed to develop plans for returning to school that accommodate ongoing impacts of coronavirus. Staff should utilize the final two days of March to finalize plans for operating schools under updated measures when students return on April 1st.
*Districts are tasked with developing plans to continue nutrition services during the closure.
*The Oregon Department of Education will examine the impact the closure will have on instructional time.
*School districts will ensure adequate cleaning supplies for increased cleaning protocols following the closure.
*The Early Learning Division will support child care programs and will work to identify resources to support child care needs for the most vulnerable families, as well as health care professionals and first responders.
Brown said due to the evolving nature of this crisis, these timelines will be reevaluated in late March in consultation with school administrators.