Governor Brown closes Oregon schools amid coronavirus concerns

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    Taft High School Closed
    Taft 7-12 is closed by order of the Governor until April 1

    Governor Kate Brown announced a statewide school closure for K-12 students in Oregon Thursday night starting Monday, March 16 and lasting until Tuesday, March 31.

    Brown released the following statement:

    “Schools are critical institutions that provide important services for all our students, but especially our most vulnerable, and during this crisis I have worked hard to ensure those critical services continue. So many of our families depend on school in order for parents to go to their jobs, and for students to access health care and receive nutrition assistance.

    “However, I have 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. 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.

    “I want to be very clear: sending Oregon children home will not stop the spread of the coronavirus. 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.

    “This is a trying time for our community and I am reluctant to increase the burden on families who are already struggling to adapt to and stay healthy during this crisis. However, we are left with little choice in light of school districts’ staff capacity and operational concerns. I want to thank all of the teachers and school employees who have worked hard to keep our schools open until now.”

    Per the Governor’s directives and with the support of the Oregon Department of Education and the state’s Early Learning Division, during the closure:

    • 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, with students expected to return on Wednesday, April 1.
    • 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 our most vulnerable families, as well as health care professionals and first responders.

    “We are in close communication with school districts across the state, and they will be communicating regularly with their school communities throughout the closure period,” said Colt Gill, Director of the Oregon Department of Education. “Due to the evolving nature of this crisis, these timelines will be reevaluated in late March in consultation with school administrators.”

    SOURCEOregon Governor Kate Brown
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    Homepage Staff
    Staff account: Articles written and/or edited by Homepage Staff.

    4 COMMENTS

    1. Do you think it might have been important to note the Governor targeted K through 12 schools, but not colleges or universities?

    2. We will need to close the casino and rentals! or every irresponsible peron will flee here for fun instead of doing the right thing. There already doing it! Think time to call portland news on this one I have irresponsible info for them pertaining to business. And the red city gov here only cares about money!

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