Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ordered the state’s public schools to cancel classes through March 31 in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. The move comes hours after school boards in the Ashland, Lake Oswego, Reynolds and Tigard-Tualatin districts voted to do the same.

Brown’s order takes effect Monday. Portland Public Schools, the state’s largest district, in a note to parents billed the cancelation as an “extended spring break.”

In a statement, the governor said she had worked hard to keep schools open.

“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,” 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.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced schools in Snohomish, King and Pierce counties will close for six weeks, affecting 600,000 students. Oregon’s statewide closure will affect nearly 583,000 kids, according to enrollment estimates from the state Department of Education as of February.

Brown asked school administrators to spend the final two days of March preparing to reopen schools April 1 and ensuring they have adequate cleaning supplies. She also asked school districts to develop plans to keep serving food to students despite the closures.

On Wednesday, Brown had ordered the cancellation of events and gatherings of 250 or more people without calling for school closures as part of that mandate. The decision perplexed parents and teachers, many of whom pressed their local districts to consider closing schools on their own.

Private schools, including St. Mary’s Academy and Central Catholic and Jesuit high schools, were the first to announce long-term closures ranging from two to four weeks.

Those institutions announced their closures alongside notices that students will use school-issued tech to take classes online.

But not all public schools can afford to provide students with computers or tablets for the purposes of distance learning, one of several reasons officials at the state and local level offered in justifying keeping classes open.

Some low-income students also rely on school lunch and breakfasts as a lifeline. The Tigard-Tualatin district will serve to-go meals at Metzger and Tualatin elementary schools.

While young children and teenagers are among the least vulnerable to the virus — the majority of fatalities have been recorded in people older than 60 — public health experts have said preventing crowds from gathering is one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of the disease and keep hospitals and health care workers from becoming overwhelmed by serious cases.

Some health experts contend preventative measures, such as closing schools before a virus is confirmed among the student population, could stem its spread and help ensure hospitals and health care centers don’t get overwhelmed.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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