While one Whatcom school district delays reopening, another prepares for next step
The Lynden School District announced that it will delay plans to reopen its doors and begin in-person instruction for some of its youngest students by one week.
Some students in kindergarten through second grade are now scheduled to be back in the building beginning Oct. 12, Superintendent Jim Frey announced in a letter to families posted on the district’s website Friday, Sept. 25.
All school districts around Washington state, have been wrestling with how to educate their students during the coronavirus pandemic since Gov. Jay Inslee announced March 13 that he was closing all schools in the state in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Lynden originally announced plans to return Oct. 5, but Frey wrote the week-long delay was necessary to allow for planning and staff training on new protocols, practices and expectations to have students return to class.
“I know this delay is an inconvenience and possibly more as families have already made plans for school starting on Oct. 5. ... However, as we have spent the past week planning and preparing it became increasingly evident that the number of things to get done in the amount of time we had was going to be a problem,” Frey wrote
Students whose families elected to have them distance learn from home will continue to do so, but Frey said the challenge of offering online and in-person instruction simultaneously “is significant.”
Students in grades 3 through 12 will continue remote learning until schools incrementally reopen for in-person learning for them.
Frey did not say if the timeline that was released last week would be adjusted for those older students, as well. That timeline had high school students — the final group to start in-person classes — returning in late November.
“We are excited to have our kids back in school and want to make sure we have everything in place to ensure we can sustain in-person instruction and successfully provide the education all our students deserve,” Frey wrote.
Frey said more information about on-campus protocols and procedures, including transportation, food services and cleaning, is available on the district website at lyndenhealthinfo.com. Frey said principals also will be sending reopening details to families in the next two weeks.
Blaine readies for return
Blaine School District Superintendent Christopher Granger reported in a letter that his district also would begin welcoming more students into the building on Oct. 12.
Blaine moved Phase II of its reopening plan on Sept. 21, but Granger said kindergartners and some of the district’s language learners will return to the buildings on an A/B Hybrid schedule beginning Oct. 12.
“This date remains open to adjustment should we receive any updated guidance from health authorities or experience an increase in cases in our county,” Granger wrote.
After the first group begins hybrid learning, Granger said the district will consider bringing other grade levels back in two- to three-week increments, based on the conditions in the county and the district’s ability to staff those grade levels.
Each student that does return to class must complete an online wellness screening every day before they are allowed access to the building, according to the district website.
