Hood River County School District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn told the district board on Wednesday that even though Oregon Governor Kate Brown made it sound like schools could reopen when setting a goal of opening them by February 15, the reality is the state’s metrics for schools are not as advisory as they are made out to be. Polkinghorn told the board while the Governor has put more decision making in the hands of local districts, liability issues haven’t gone away. Polkinghorn says the House bill does not cover the district for liability if they don’t follow the state metrics. Polkinghorn added the legal opinion school districts have received is that even though Ready Schools, Safe Learners is supposedly advisory, the language in it still says it’s required. Polkinghorn told the board his message remains that the district will work with the Hood River County Health Department and follow its recommendations.