The St. Vrain Valley and Boulder Valley school districts and Dawson School announced late Thursday that they are closing all schools, effective Friday, in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

“Late this afternoon, we were informed by Boulder County Public Health that a person in Boulder County has tested positive for COVID-19 and came in contact with others in the community while sick. To this end, at the strong recommendation of Boulder Public Health, we will be closing all schools in St. Vrain, beginning tomorrow, March 13, 2020 through the end of Spring Break,” the district announced on its website late Thursday. Its spring break ends March 27.

BVSD made a similar announcement on its website, citing the same announcement from the county health department.

Both districts noted the decision was difficult because officials understand the challenges it could pose to families, but that it was in the best interest of the communities.

Adams 12 Five Star School District is extending Spring Break, which begins Monday and will now last through March 27.

“We will continue to have a normal school day Friday,” the district posted on its website, “which will include any scheduled field trips.”

The district will open school buildings Monday so families can pick up any medication or other belongings they are unable to pick up today.

Jefferson Academy in Broomfield will close school facilities and go to online learning starting Monday through March 20. During spring break March 23-27, Jefferson County Public Schools leadership will assess when teachers, staff and students can return to campus.

The school will be open Monday to allow families to pick up items, such as medication, during normal school hours, but officials encourage families to collect those items Friday.

Campuses at St. Vrain and Boulder school districts would be open to families and staff to pick up necessary items in the event that school is canceled beyond the end of spring break.

Boulder Valley Superintendent Rob Anderson said that while the Boulder Valley’s closure is currently planned to extend through its spring break from March 23 to 27, during which the students will not participate in home learning, the district’s administrators will work with Boulder County Public Health to reassess the situation as spring break draws to a close. Whatever the decision, Anderson said, officials will remain in constant contact with affected families.

George P. Moore, head of school for Dawson School, sent families a letter saying that school also would remain closed beginning Friday through its spring break. Classes will resume March 31, but officials may transition to online learning immediately. Moore stated the school would be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday to allow students and families to pick up all items needed if the district immediately begins online-only learning, including devices, textbooks, notebooks and binders. Parents whose students do not have adequate technology or internet service should call the school, 303-665-6679, and ask for IT to get assistance.

“We will do everything possible to help our students continue to learn and grow in this remote learning environment, and will rely on the close relationships and connections we have established to make the most of the situation.”

Earlier Thursday local districts had announced the cancellation of all after-school activities.

Starting on Friday, the Boulder Valley, St. Vrain Valley and Adams 12 school districts planned to cancel all sports practices, games and performances as required by the Colorado High School Athletics Association. Erie High School even canceled its spring musical, which was supposed to start Thursday night. St. Vrain also said it would be canceling all free child care programs as well.

Boulder Valley also canceled all school-sponsored field trips through April 6 and will cancel building rentals to outside groups.

Despite the closures around the region, schools in Adams 12 remained open on Friday and planned to continue all scheduled field trips. However, on its website, the district noted that, “we will receive an update from CDPHE and the state epidemiologist on Friday, March 13 regarding new test results or if there is evidence of significant community transmission. Based on new data shared, we will begin to formulate plans for a possible spring break extension or school closures over the next two weeks and will announce those decisions tomorrow, Friday, March 13. We’d encourage families to also start planning for a possible extended closure and planning for child care as necessary.”

The current rules for school closures, issued by Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday, are that schools will close for 72 hours if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19. Schools with multiple cases will be required to close for 14 days, while districts with multiple schools affected by coronavirus also must close for 14 days.

In Boulder Valley, to evaluate the ability of students to learn from home during a sustained closure, the district on Thursday sent a survey to families to ask about how many, if any, digital devices they would need from the district for their students to use a device for four hours a day. The survey also asked about internet access.

The survey was sent by email and text, with school principals asked to reach out directly to families they know may not receive electronic communication. The district also is surveying teachers to assess their needs around training.

Boulder Valley officials said the district would move to a “home learning” plan if a closure stretches longer than 10 days.

For those without access, Boulder Valley area superintendent Sam Messier said, the plan is to provide mobile hot spots. She added the district doesn’t yet know if it will have enough for all the families and knows they don’t work as well in all areas. As a backup, she said, the district has paper-based options ready.

For elementary students, the plan is to provide them with paper packets with a focus on math and literacy. Teachers will be asked to record video messages and to video conference with students as needed, she said.

Secondary teachers also will be asked to record a daily video for students, as well provide online lessons.

“We feel like it’s really important to keep kids connected to school,” Messier said. “We want to try to maintain as much normalcy as we can.”

She said the district is prepared to support teachers with training, including how to set up courses and best teaching practices, and to provide teaches with pre-built content. The district is also planning a helpline for teachers if needed.

In St. Vrain Valley, Haddad said, the district would move to online learning for am “extended” closure, but said the number of days schools would need to close before that happens would depend on circumstances.

“We have capacity to provide support for kids without devices or internet access,” he said. “We do have a plan in place and the technology in place to continue learning from home. We would let everyone low what that looks like.”

In Boulder Valley, spokesman Randy Barber, said the district is working on a plan with community partners to ensure students who depend on free or reduced lunches don’t go hungry during a closure.

Haddad said St. Vrain Valley has a process to provide meals to students who receive free and reduced lunches, but declined to provide details other than to say it could look similar to the summer lunch program.

The district would let parents know how they could participate, he said.