SAINT PAUL- Minnesota public schools will be closed to students beginning Wednesday as the state works to combat the spread of the coronavirus, but food service and care for emergency workers’ children will be provided.

Gov. Tim Walz issued an executive order Sunday morning to suspend classroom instruction and student attendance between Wednesday, March 18 and Friday, March 27. The governor urged tribal and private schools to do the same.

“We continue to take this pandemic seriously and are taking sensible steps to protect all Minnesotans,” Walz said in a press release. “I realize that schools are community hubs for children and families. School closures put burdens on children and families and create disproportionate impacts on different communities.”

Walz’s statement characterized the closure as, “time to plan strategies for achieving educational goals while also complying with public health guidance.”

ISD 2142 Superintendent Reggie Engebritson echoed that information in a video statement posted to YouTube shortly after the governor's proclamation.

"During the time that schools will be closed it will give our staff, all teachers, an opportunity to plan how we will provide distance learning to our students should we have to continue to stay closed after March 27th," Engebritson said.

Engebritson also emphasized that schools would be open Monday and Tuesday.

"We will remain open tomorrow and Tuesday," she said. "During that time we want to get books to students or possibly some other materials because we will not be providing instruction from Wednesday, Mar 18 until Friday, March 27."

In a statement posted to the Ely school district website, Ely superintendent Erik Erie noted that student instruction would begin again on Monday, Mar. 30, and that the district would be prepared to do that by distance education if schools remain closed.

"Our educators will be giving thoughtful planning to our distance learning plan, offering careful consideration for students in a variety of areas, including students receiving special education services, multilingual learners, students experiencing homelessness, and students who rely on meals served at school," Erie said.

School employees have been directed to continue to report to work, according to Walz’s executive order, to assist with emergency management planning, except in individual cases where public health guidance recommends otherwise.

Districts have been directed to continue to provide food service for students during the closure period.

Children ages 12 and under whose parents are “emergency workers” are to receive care at the schools during regular school hours, and Walz encouraged districts to provide before and after-school care as well. Those listed in the order as emergency workers include: providers of healthcare, emergency medical services, long-term and post-acute care; law enforcement personnel; personnel providing correctional services; public health employees; firefighters and other first responders; and court personnel.

Walz also directed state agencies to develop plans to provide additional support to center-based and family child care centers to stay open and remain in business.

The Timberjay will continue to update this story with local information as it becomes available.