"We recognize the surreal circumstances and the impact these circumstances are having on all of us," Belmore said. "We encourage our students to continue to find and create moments of familiarity and maintain other routines as much as possible."

If parents decide to keep their students home Monday and Tuesday, the absences will be excused, Belmore said.

She said, at this point, no students or staff are known to have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The state Department of Public Instruction requires students receive a set number of instructional hours a year, which could be affected by the two-and-a-half week closure.

Deputy state Superintendent Michael Thompson said in an interview Friday districts can apply for waivers to the requirement based on "extraordinary situations."

The order to close, which was issued by the state Department of Health Services at Evers' direction, follows mandates in other states shutting down their school systems.

"School districts have been considering, thinking about school closures for the last several weeks," Thompson said. "I don't think any school is caught off guard."