‘Much has changed’ since schools closed — here’s how Whatcom districts are responding

Most Whatcom County school districts didn’t hold classes on Monday, March 16 — a day before Gov. Jay Inslee mandated all public and private districts in the state closed. But district administrators and many school staff were still hard at work navigating what no school for six weeks actually means.

“Much has changed since the governor closed schools Friday afternoon,” Meridian School District Superintendent Dr. James Everett wrote in a letter to students, family and staff Monday. “I want to update you on what we are focusing on here in the district. I am appreciative of all our employees for their leadership and support. They have been grappling with difficult issues and working to find solutions.”

While much still has to be decided in the coming days, here is what Whatcom public school districts announced on Monday:

Bellingham Public Schools

▪ Food service: The district continued to develop plans for drive-through meals to start Monday, March 23, according to a letter from Superintendent Dr. Greg Baker, who promised details would be coming soon.

▪ Childcare: Baker’s letter provided a link on the district’s online COVID-19 page to community partners who are providing childcare in some form during the school closure. Baker invited licensed childcare facilities to email the district to have their name added to the list. Baker also added that other local partners are working directly with fire, medical and other essential employees on filling their childcare needs.

▪ Educational support: Baker said the district is working with directors, teachers on special assignment, educational technology coaches, principals and others to prepare guidance for teachers, paraeducators, students and families. “We expect to communicate more about learning in the coming days; for now, please continue to encourage kids to read, play outside and practice social distancing,” Baker wrote.

▪ Board of directors meeting: The district also announced that its board of directors meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, has been postponed to an undetermined date.

Ferndale School District

Ferndale was the only school district in Whatcom County to hold classes on Monday, but closed school Tuesday, March 17, to meet the governor’s order.

▪ Food service: Superintendent Dr. Linda Quinn wrote in a letter Monday the district is still researching what other districts are doing, and the district is scheduled to meet with union leaders and district administrators to engage in making plans.

▪ Childcare: Quinn wrote that the district is expecting to receive guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction on Wednesday. Ferndale also announced in a Facebook post Tuesday, that it has created an online survey to help it assess the community needs during the school closure. The survey can be found at the district’s website.

▪ Educational support: Though some teachers distributed assignments on Monday, Quinn wrote that the district does not “intend them to be one more cause for stress in your family.” Quinn added that students would not be penalized for incomplete work, though more schoolwork may be coming in the future. Quinn also said that the district is working with the state to determine how seniors can finish the school year and graduate.

▪ School board meeting: Ferndale also announced that it will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday via Zoom Video Conference.

Lynden School District

▪ Food service: The Lynden School District announced in a Facebook post Tuesday that it will be offering meals beginning Thursday, March 19, for pick up at Fisher Elementary, Isom Elementary, Bernice Vossbeck Elementary and Lynden Middle School. Breakfasts and lunches will be available 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and are available to children 18 and younger, even if they are not a student. Children must be present to receive meals.

Meridian School District

▪ Food service: Meridian offered its first day of free bagged breakfast and lunch pickup on Monday, and food service workers will be distributing meals again for children 18 and young from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Meridian Middle School. Plans for delivering food beginning Wednesday are expected to come Tuesday afternoon, Everett said in his letter.

▪ Childcare: Everett invited healthcare workers and first responders with students enrolled at Meridian from pre-K through fifth grade and need childcare to email studentsupport@meridian.wednet.edu or call 360-318-2177. More information should come by Monday, Everett wrote.

▪ Educational support: Everett said the district is working to connect educators so they can collaborate and develop self-directed learning opportunities. Details should be coming by Monday, Everett wrote.

Mount Baker School District

▪ Food service: Mount Baker announced in a Facebook post Tuesday morning that it will start its Reverse the Baker Bus meal deliveries.

Small buses will be doing food deliveries from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Friday, stopping at established morning routes. Participants are asked to listen for the bus honks and watch, as exact times are not known.

Three days’ worth of breakfast and lunch will be provided with each delivery, though children must be present to receive meals. The service is free and available to children 18 and younger, even if they are not enrolled in the district’s free lunch program.

Standardized testing

▪ SAT: The College Board announced Monday that it is canceling the May 2 administration of the SAT college entrance exam on May 2. The makeup exam scheduled for March 28 also has been canceled, and registered students will receive refunds, the College Board reported. The June 6 test is still scheduled, and the College Board reported it will provide additional SAT testing opportunities when conditions allow.

▪ ACT: The ACT college entrance exam originally scheduled for April 4 has been rescheduled to June 13, according to the ACT website. Test dates on June 13 and July 18 are still scheduled.

▪ State testing: Baker wrote in his letter Saturday, March 14, that all state testing is canceled this year. “While state testing provides us with some meaningful information, we also know it takes up a lot of school time; this will lessen the impact of the coming loss days of instruction,” Baker wrote.

This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 9:37 AM.