SALEM â Oregon schools have been granted more power to determine how they will teach their students during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to new policy initiatives from Gov. Kate Brown. In a letter to Oregon Health Authority director Pat Allen and Department of Education director Colt Gill on Wednesday, Dec. 23, the governor issued several directives to the agencies with the goal of opening Oregonâs schools for in-person instruction. Most notably, the governor said that guidance from the state on school reopening would become advisory rather than mandatory in the new year. âIt is my hope that more Oregon schools, especially elementary schools, will transition to in-person instruction by February 15, 2021,â Gov. Brown said in the letter.