MILTON-FREEWATER â Oregon schools faced stricter restrictions earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented them from moving to a hybrid schedule as fast as many Washington schools. Now, however, the Milton-Freewater and Athena-Weston school districts are jumping to full days of in-person learning faster than most of their neighbors to the north. The Athena-Weston district made the jump for the remainder of their students on Monday, April 5. Younger Athena-Weston students have been back for full days for some time. However, the high school classrooms are too small to accommodate full classes if students need to sit 6 feet apart. Now, Gov. Kate Brownâs decision to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations and switch to 3 feet of distancing for students have allowed high schoolers to return as well.