HERMISTON — As school districts across Eastern Oregon began announcing school closures, the snow day for Hermiston meant a delay to the long-anticipated start of hybrid learning.

Hermiston School District was planning to bring kindergarten and first grade students back to the classroom for the first time on Tuesday, Feb. 16. That milestone will be postponed by at least a day after the district announced all classes — including online learning for the older grades — would be canceled on Feb. 16.

Some students and parents reacted with disappointment online. While a limited number of students needing extra help had previously been allowed to return to the classroom for two hours a day of “limited in-person instruction,” for most kindergarteners, Feb. 16 would have been their first time in a classroom.

Other area schools, preschools and colleges had also canceled or adjusted classes for Feb. 16 by the previous afternoon. Pendleton School District announced all on-site activities would be canceled for Feb. 16, but students should still log on for comprehensive distance learning.

Stanfield School District announced all in-person classes would be canceled on Feb. 16, and asked parents and students to check the district’s website for its “inclement weather” schedule for virtual learning.

Umatilla, Milton-Freewater and Athena-Weston school districts also announced they would be closing its campuses but continuing with some online classes on Feb. 16. Echo School District announced a complete closure of all classes.

Pilot Rock School District canceled classes Monday, Feb. 15, which most students across the state had off school already for President’s Day. On Feb. 15, all InterMountain Education Service District offices were closed, and on Feb. 16 the ESD canceled early childhood special education classes in at Punkin Center, Freewater and McNary.

Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University both closed its campuses Feb. 15 for all in-person learning and students were directed to check in with their instructor to see if their class would still take place in a virtual format.

All OCDC Head Start Centers were closed in Hermiston, Milton-Freewater and Irrigon on Feb. 16.

Lifeways also announced its closure for day treatment for Feb. 16.