Naselle–Grays River Valley School District announced on the evening of February 5, 2026, that its schools would remain closed on February 6 due to widespread illness causing staffing shortages, with Superintendent Josh Brooks confirming the closure.

This disruption follows a similar closure on January 29 in the Toutle Lake School District. That district reported more than 15 percent of its students and roughly 35 percent of its staff absent, triggering a required health department notification and prompting a full deep cleaning of school facilities.

Local families and staff are continuing to contend with a contagious gastrointestinal illness, likely norovirus, which is known to spread swiftly in school settings during winter months. Public health guidelines emphasize frequent handwashing, thorough disinfection of high-touch surfaces, and keeping symptomatic individuals home until at least 48 hours have passed without symptoms.

Why this matters

For families in Longview, Kelso, and throughout Cowlitz County, these closures signal more than a lost school day. They reflect rising community illness levels that strain local classrooms and complicate childcare arrangements—and may disproportionately impact households without flexible caregiving alternatives.

Schools are hubs of community infrastructure. When one district reports staffing shortages due to illness, it creates ripple effects: increased demands on healthcare providers, parents juggling work and caregiving, and growing pressure on substitute and auxiliary staff across the region.

We will continue to monitor statements from the Naselle–Grays River Valley and Toutle Lake school districts, as well as guidance from the Cowlitz County Health Department regarding illness trends and recommended responses.