COVID-19 Updates 3/31/2020

Rep. Sollman

Friends and Neighbors,

Governor's Executive Orders

Find a summary below of the Executive Orders given by Governor Kate Brown to date. Stay tuned to this page for all of the latest news and information on the coronavirus from the Governor's office.

Education Update - Distance Learning For All

The Oregon Department of Education has released new guidance on Extended School Closures and Distance Learning Education for K-12 which includes new guidelines for teacher-instructed hours of learning each day and requirements to ensure all students can access distance learning. See some highlights below and use this link to access the full report. Visit ODE's Distant Learning For All page for more information and to find the latest updates.

Key elements of distance learning for every student, educator and parent to know.

  • Every student regularly connects with their teacher(s).
  • Teachers and students prioritize time together to focus on the most important or
    relevant learning.
  • Teachers, families, and caregivers work as a team, anchored in partnership. Together, teachers and families co-facilitate learning, design consistent routines, and establish the learning environment.
  • Teachers continue to monitor, report and record each student’s progress towards
    learning goals and standards, encouraging critical problem solving, collaboration,
    communication and creativity.
  • Schools provide multiple, flexible opportunities -- for our high school students in
    particular – to earn credit on their pathway to graduation.

As a foundation for successful Distance Learning for All our students, our schools have a critical responsibility to:

  • Continue to focus on student belonging, care, connection, well-being and mental and
    social-emotional health.
  • Actively engage and nurture relationships with students, families, and community.
  • Center equity in all outreach and communication efforts with parents and caregivers.
  • Encourage, support and provide opportunities for active collaboration and
    communication between school leaders, teachers and all school staff.

Local School Districts

Hillsboro School District: See the latest updates here, including meal distribution with new bus delivery, and distance learning information for HSD.

Beaverton School District: See the latest updates here, including expanded meal delivery sites and more.

Banks School District: See the latest updates here, including meal distribution, distance learning information, and more.

Updates for Local Small Businesses

City of Hillsboro Increases Emergency Grant Funding

  • Small businesses in the City of Hillsboro can apply to receive up to $3,000 in emergency grant funding during a second round of applications on Tuesday, April 7, between 9 am and 4 pm on the COVID-19 Business Resources webpage.
  • City of Hillsboro staff will be available by phone at 503-681-5260, in English and Spanish, to assist business owners and entrepreneurs who need help. The online applications will also be available in English and Spanish, as they were during the first round of applications in March. The emergency support will help small businesses offset some of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To qualify, businesses must be located inside Hillsboro city limits and have an active business license from the City of Hillsboro prior to applying. All business license fees are being waived at this time. Priority will be given to businesses that have been impacted by the executive orders issued by the Governor of Oregon, including but not limited to: food and drink establishments, arcades, art galleries, barber shops and hair salons, bowling alleys, gyms and fitness studios, furniture stores, jewelry shops and boutiques, medical spas, facial spas, day spas, non-medical massage therapy services, museums, nail and tanning salons, theaters, yoga studios, small medical offices, education and daycare facilities, and businesses that rely on larger gatherings of people.

Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Virtual Tip Jar

tip jar

Give Someone a Tip
Many of us would regularly be patronizing bars, salons, restaurants, and other businesses that have been shuttered. Even if you are socially isolating, you can help to support our local service industry staff. Consider sending a “tip” to your favorite bartender, server, stylist, aesthetician. Use the google sheet linked below to find their Venmo/Paypal info. Note that you can sort by each column heading or use “ctrl+f” to find the person you are looking for by name or place of employment. If you don’t see your favorite service industry folks listed, encourage them to come and fill out the form (see below). Please circulate widely.

Get On The List
Many of our friends and neighbors depend on tips to make ends meet. This virtual tip jar is for local service industry staff – employees at bars, restaurants, salons, etc. – to post their Venmo or Paypal information so that customers, neighbors, and Hillsboro community members can continue to support them.

Tax day

COVID-19 Tax Relief Options

Oregon tax return filing and payment deadlines extended​​

  • At the direction of Governor Kate Brown, the Oregon Department of Revenue has announced an extension for Oregon tax filing and payment deadlines for personal income taxes and some other taxes closely following the IRS extension de​claration​. This move is a result of the governor’s priority to keep Oregonians safe and healthy, while also providing relief and consistency for Oregon taxpayers affected by the federal and state COVID-19 emergency.

Personal and corporate income tax

  • On March 21, 2020, the IRS issued a news release (Notice 2020-58​) automatically extending the filing due date to July 15, 2020, for all returns due April 15, 2020, and allowing all ​​payments due on that date to be deferred until July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest, regardless of the amount of the payment.
  • Under the authority of ORS 305.157, the director of the Department of Revenue has determined that the governor’s state-declared emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the action of the IRS will impair the ability of Oregon taxpayers to take certain actions within the time prescribed by law. Therefore, the director has ordered an automatic extension of the 2019 tax year filing and payment due dates for certain affected taxpayers as indicated below.

For details of the extensions, see the department's news release, the D​i​​​rector's Order​ and the Director's Order FAQ​.

Updates from Washington County Sheriff's Office

COVID-19 PATROL IMPACTS (from Washington County Sheriffs Newsletter)

WCSO

Despite the current COVID-19 situation, Sheriff's deputies remain dedicated to protecting the community and keeping you safe. Please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for any emergency or the non-emergency dispatch number, 503-629-0111, for other needs, such as reports of theft, fraud, suspicious activity or other non-emergency concerns.

To keep ourselves and the community we serve safe, we implemented the following precautions:

  • Effective March 25, 2020, the Bethany and East Precincts of the Sheriff's Office closed to the public until further notice. Our main Hillsboro location remains open for limited services, however, we encourage you to please call ahead to insure your business needs can still be met at this time, 503-846-2700.
  • When reasonable, deputies will respond to calls for service over the phone.
  • If the call requires in-person contact, and the situation allows, a deputy may maintain 6 feet distance as CDC protocols recommend.
  • Unless the situation deems necessary, deputies responding to residences will ask callers to step outside rather than entering the home.
  • Deputies may wear masks or gloves as precautionary measures to protect the public and themselves.
  • When conducting traffic stops, deputies will still maintain 6 feet distance from the passenger side of the car. They may also ask for your name and license number instead of passing materials hand to hand, limiting handing of any documents whenever possible.

Through all this, we strive to find the right balance between taking strong measures to protect our community while maintaining public safety. We are stronger together. More than ever before, public safety is a shared responsibility.

Additionally, see this letter from Sheriff Pat Garrett on the measures WCSO is taking to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Sign up here to receive the WSCO Newsletters to your inbox.

Additional Resources

District Links

Utilities Assistance

Food and Housing Assistance

MOW

Please remember that many non-profits could use your support during this time. If you are able, consider donating time or money to help out our friends in need.  I have been a long-time volunteer with Meals on Wheels and yesterday I got the call from my Hillsboro Meals on Wheels People Center that they had a delivery shift for me to cover. The people were so appreciative of the food and it was so safe. I set the goods by the door, would ring the doorbell, step back 6 feet and waited for them to answer. I would give a friendly hello and how are you doing. I let them know we will get through this together. Then, was off to smile at a new face at a new door. Thank you Hillsboro Hops for the donation of bags and community support. Want to help home-bound seniors? Please donate here and choose the Hillsboro center. ❤

Stay Home. Save Lives.

Governor Brown’s #StayHomeSaveLives order is critical to address the need to flatten the curve and stop the spread of this virus. I know that it is not easy, but reducing your trips out and about can greatly reduce your exposure. Please consider consolidating your trips to the grocery store. My husband and I are shopping two weeks at a time. My neighbors have an email group message that goes out if someone is going to do their shopping and we check in to see if a neighbor needs an item of two. It reminds me of how my cousin shops normally in rural Montana. Her Costco is one hour trip each way. We are lucky we live where we do, but now is not the time for convenience, it is a time for planning and proactive measures. It will take all of us coming together to beat this. We will get through it. It is temporary. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns. 

Keep Calm

 

Onward and Upward,

Janeen

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman