With COVID-19, Whatcom schools plan these remote, hybrid models for fall classes
Information from Ferndale and Blaine was updated July 23, 2020.
Whatcom County schools have adapted to COVID-19 and are working on reopening plans for the fall.
Many of these preliminary plans are a work in progress based on guidance from local and state governing bodies. As such, they are subject to change as the county grapples with COVID-19. However, most districts have planned for multiple contingencies, including remote- and hybrid-learning experiences.
Here’s what districts have distributed to their respective communities:
Bellingham Public Schools
The Bellingham school district plans to offer in-person and remote instruction in the fall but details for the plan are still being discussed.
Superintendent Greg Baker outlined a work-in-progress plan in a July 16 message to the Bellingham community. Though the district intends to offer a hybrid model, work teams have only started meeting in July to decide on the details. The district intends to start school on Sept. 2.
“I want to acknowledge the anxiety many of us are experiencing,” Baker said in the message. “Some are anxious to have more details. While I know we want to more know more, I encourage you to be as patient as possible.”
The district intends to implement new safety measures for those who chose to return to campuses, according to the message. Those measures will include face coverings, distancing, sanitizing, health screenings and smaller class sizes.
In-person offerings may be prioritized for younger students and those receiving special services, according to the message. Meanwhile, students in grades three through 12 may follow a hybrid model involving in-person classes on some days and remote learning on other days.
Additionally, there will be a completely remote learning option for those who are unwilling or unable to attend in-person classes during the ongoing pandemic, the message read.
The district has not yet determined how instruction, bell schedules, busing, meals and recesses will change. It has also not determined how people will social distance in classrooms, what kind of personal protective equipment will be used and provided, how often students will wash their hands, or what to do if a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19.
As the Sept. 2 reopening date approaches, Bellingham Public Schools has been collaborating with the Whatcom County Reopening Advisory Team and has set up its own such team to advise its internal teams, according to the message.
Since early July, the district has convened an operations team to consider schedules, online learning platforms, transportation, food services, personal protective equipment and more. An instructional team, organized by content areas and levels, started meeting in mid-July as well.
“We will share plans as soon as they are ready,” Baker said in the message. “We want to allow enough time for staff to focus and receive training, and for students and families to decide which option will work best for them.”
Baker acknowledged these plans may change based on guidance from Gov. Jay Inslee, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We have seen school districts come out with plans only to change them a week or two later because guidance and best practices have changed,” Baker said in the message. “Of course, that could still happen to us, regardless of when we release plans.”
Blaine School District
The Blaine School district plans to offer in-person and remote learning in the fall with a weekly rotating schedule.
Superintendent Christopher Granger detailed a hybrid schedule and an entirely remote option in a July 8 message to the Blaine community. Despite rising COVID-19 cases in Whatcom County, the district released its plan earlier than other districts to give parents more time to plan, the message read. The district intends to start school on Aug. 26.
“Due to the constantly changing circumstances, there is a part of me that worries we are releasing our plan too soon,” Granger said in the message. “Ultimately, however, I have made the decision to get you the information we do have, with as much lead time as possible, so you can begin to make plans for your family.”
The new schedule involves dividing students into A and B groups that alternate attending in-person and remote classes each week. The district also intends to schedule students from the same households on the same week.
The rotating schedule enables social distancing by limiting class sizes to 15 or fewer students, the message read. Granger told The Herald that their maintenance and operations staff have been reorganizing classroom space in anticipation of students returning in the fall.
School days will remain six hours long, however, the first four hours will be in-person while the last two will be remote during a student’s in-person week, according to the message. During a student’s remote week, they will follow the same six-hour schedule albeit remotely. Every Friday will also be remote for all regardless of what week it is.
During remote-learning weeks, students in the fifth grade or below will check in with their teachers and watch prerecorded lessons and content, according to the message. Meanwhile, students in grades six through 12 will take part in livestreamed lessons during the first four hours of the day.
To accommodate student questions, teachers will host virtual office hours from 1:50 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day for all students, the message read. Each student will also be able to check out a Chromebook to use for the entire school year.
Regarding recess and breaks, Granger said the district is still unsure how to approach them and hopes the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will issue more guidance on the matter.
“What we heard largely from our families is they can’t wear a mask for six or seven hours,” Granger said. “There has got to be some breaks there. We recognize that’s a need.”
Families are expected to commit their children to either the entirely remote option or the hybrid option via a planning survey between July 27 and July 30, according to the message.
The district devised this plan with guidance from Gov. Inslee’s office, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington state and Whatcom County Department of Health, Granger said.
Granger also told The Herald the district has convened workgroups of families and staff to get feedback for the reopening plans.
“Perceptions change, feelings change as the cases are going up,” Granger said. “So, we want to continue to monitor the feeling of our community and be able to respond accordingly.”
If outstanding circumstances force the district to move entirely online, students will simply follow the remote schedule, the message read.
Ferndale School District
The Ferndale School District has devised three options, including a hybrid-learning experience, for students in the fall.
With plans to start school on Sept. 2, the district convened a task force of 58 people on July 7 to design the options, according to a district news release. Though the district is planning to have families pick among these options, this plan could still change as the pandemic runs its course.
The plans include an entirely remote option for families that do not want to send their children back to school, a rotating schedule mixing in-person classes with remote learning and a phased-in option allowing some students to spend more time in in-person classes.
The rotating schedule option, or the AA/BB option will involve in-person learning two days per week and distance learning three days per week, according to the release. Students will also be divided into two groups, AA and BB, that would alternate spending time on campus.
The phased-in option factors in a student’s age, grade level, internet access or other educational needs to determine if they can spend more time in in-person classes, the release read.
The district intends to offer parents options as long as they can do so safely, said Superintendent Linda Quinn in a July 23 news release. She added distance learning has been a topic of concern given the move by other school districts to remote learning in the fall.
“I want to make sure our families know that we have been working hard all summer to ensure we can offer an improved distance learning program this fall with better tools specifically designed to support teachers in delivering education in an online environment,” Quinn said in the release.
The task force will continue meeting until Aug. 18, the release read, and a final plan must be sent to the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction by Aug. 19.
Lynden School District
The Lynden School District plans to offer three options, including a hybrid-learning experience, to students returning in the fall.
The three options include entirely remote education, in-person learning with limited days and a quasi-homeschooling option that would keep students in the district, according to a July 15 message to the Lynden community from Superintendent Jim Frey. The district intends to start school Sept. 3.
The three-tiered plan is still a work in progress based on evolving guidance from government bodies, the message read. Students will be expected to maintain 6 feet physical distancing, wear face coverings and undergo health checks. However, details on how those expectations will be met and enforced are still being reviewed, according to the message.
The remote learning option, Lynden Online, would be independent and asynchronous, meaning students would complete their coursework on their own schedule. To keep students on track, a district staff member would monitor progress and attendance, according to the message.
The in-person option, Lynden at School, would have students return to their campuses on limited days, depending on classroom capacity and the number of students who chose this option. The message did not outline what kind of schedule students would have.
The third option, Lynden Home Connect, would have parents instruct their children at home while still remaining part of the district, according to the message. District teachers would provide some support, including virtual instruction and engagement, but the message did not elaborate on what that would look like.
The district is asking families to complete a planning survey before July 23 but will follow up the survey with a definitive registration process in early August. To answer questions, the district is virtual meetings with families throughout the week.
Meridian School District
The Meridian School District plans to offer three options, including a hybrid-learning experience, to students returning in the fall.
The district intends to keep students on campus as much as possible while still following health and safety requirements from governing bodies, according to a July 3 message from Superintendent James Everett to the Meridian community.
“We know learning happens best when our educators are able to interact directly with their students,” Everett said.
To that end, the district has devised three possible hybrid-learning models for students returning on Sept. 2. Each would have students attend in-person classes two days a week and learn remotely three days a week. However, they differ on which day to have a third remote learning day. Such a day could fall on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, according to the three models.
Kindergarten through high school students will follow one of the hybrid learning models while developmental preschool will operate Tuesday through Friday, according to the message. The district also intends to put students from the same household on the same schedule.
Alternatively, students can attend remotely but details on this option are not finalized. Parents can also choose to instruct their children themselves with some teacher support, the message read.
While on campuses, students will be expected to wear face coverings, maintain physical distance and isolate themselves if they become sick. Everett acknowledges in his message that these plans are fluid and details still need to determine.
Mount Baker School District
The Mount Baker School District plans to offer three pathways for students returning to campus on Sept. 3, according to planning survey from the district.
The district had families complete a planning survey by late June that outlined the three options. The plan includes a hybrid model, an entirely remote-learning model and a return to full-day in-person classes.
The hybrid model would have students attend in-person classes Tuesday through Thursday and remotely learn on Monday and Friday. Alternatively, the distance-learning model would have students check-in for attendance via an app and follow individual learning plans.
The plan also listed the possibility of a return to full in-person school days albeit with a mask mandate, reduced class sizes and social distancing. Similar guidelines would be followed during the in-person days of the hybrid model.
These three pathways apply to students in kindergarten through high school.
Nooksack Valley School District
The Nooksack Valley School District is considering three options for students returning in the fall.
The district asked families to complete a planning survey by July 8 to review the options and help in the planning process, according to a post on the district website. Details on each option are limited for now, but the district intends to present solidified options during a registration period in early August and start school on Sept. 2.
The first option would have students return to campuses on a limited number of days depending on the number of students who chose to return to in-person learning. The second option would allow students to attend school virtually with instruction from teachers.
The third option is a more flexible virtual option that allows students to follow their own schedule on an independent online learning platform. Students choosing either of the virtual options will have Chromebooks and hotspots available for checkout.
Lummi Nation
The Lummi Nation School has planned for three contingencies for students returning in the fall, according to a July 21 Lummi Nation Facebook post.
The contingencies are dependent on the Lummi Indian Business Council phased reopening plan, according to the post from Principal Kevin Villars. The plan follows guidance from governing bodies and may change as the Lummi Nation moves through the phases.
When classes start on Sept. 1, students will learn remotely if the Lummi Nation is under a shelter-in-place order or the first two phases of the reopening plan, according to the plan. The Lummi Nation is currently at Phase 2, meaning if the school reopened today it would follow the remote-learning model.
During Phase 3, the school would operate under a hybrid-learning environment where students would take in-person classes 2 days a week and remotely learn three days a week.
Students using the hybrid model will also be on a half-day schedule and divided into two groups, according to the post. The A group would attend mornings, while the B groups would attend in the afternoon. The school also intends to offer 100 mobile hot spots to families with trouble accessing the internet, the post read.
The third option would have students return to full in-person instruction while the Lummi Nation is in Phase 4. Though in-person classes would resume, staff and students would still be required to follow safety precautions such as wearing personal protective equipment and physical distancing, according to the post.
A new update on the reopening plans can be expected Aug. 1, the post read.
If you have questions or concerns about schools reopening in the fall please fill out this form.
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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