During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Mississippi’s public school buildings will remain closed through the end of the school year.

Reeves said this did not mean that schools were to cease educational efforts, and that he expected to see plans from school districts on what they were doing to continue educating their students.

Schools have been closed since mid-March due to the threat posed by the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that public school buildings will remain closed the rest of the semester to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, but he wants schools to continue distance-learning efforts.
Reeves also said some school districts should look at an option of offering summer classes.
He praised teachers, administrators and parents, saying that he thinks most students have continued to take some classes online or through other efforts. He also thanked school bus drivers who have delivered meals and packets of school work to children in parts of the state.
But, referring to the recent school closures, Reeves said: “This hasn’t hit all students equally.”
He acknowledged that some parts of the state lack strong internet access and some residents don’t have access to computers.
Reeves, a Republican, issued an order March 19 for public schools to close through this Friday. Many schools have semesters that end in mid-May. He said Tuesday that he consulted health experts before making the decision on extending the closure order.
Reeves also said Tuesday that he is appointing some of the state’s “top business minds” to examine it might be safe for Mississippi to start reopening businesses that have closed because of the pandemic.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.