90% of school employees in Whatcom are COVID vaccinated — here’s how each district fared
Approximately 90% of all employees of Whatcom County’s seven public school districts, including 93% of all those who work in classrooms, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 24 employees in Whatcom’s districts failed to get vaccinated or receive an exemption.
District-by-district vaccination numbers of employees were released by the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction this week, after on Oct. 28 State Superintendent Chris Reykdal reported that the state’s public K-12 school employees have far exceeded the vaccination rate for the rest of the state. He estimated the 90% of school staff statewide had been vaccinated.
“Our K–12 workforce really stepped up in a way that further protects themselves, their students, colleagues, families, and their communities at large,” Reykdal said in a news release. “With our adherence to safety protocols and nearly 90% of our staff vaccinated, our schools remain one of the safest environments for our children.”
Based on the data released by the state this week, The Bellingham Herald’s analysis found that approximately 3,653 of 4,059 employees of Whatcom County school districts have been fully vaccinated. That includes approximately 2,373 of 2,550 employees who work in the classroom, The Herald’s analysis found.
Approximately another 10 employees, including six who work in classrooms, have initiated vaccination but are not yet fully vaccinated.
The Herald’s analysis also found that approximately 385 employees (9.5%) in Whatcom County, including 201 working in classrooms (7.9%), had obtained either a religious or medical exemption from vaccination. Most of those, approximately 351 employees, including 182 who work in classrooms, received a religious exemption.
Meanwhile The Herald’s analysis found that approximately 24 school district employees in the county (0.6%), including 16 who worked in the classroom, were not vaccinated and did not obtain an exemption. More than half of them, including 12 classroom employees, were in the Mount Baker School District.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s government worker mandate requires those who aren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus or an approved religious or medical exemption to have their employment terminated.
Fully vaccinated rates among school districts in Whatcom County ranged from a high of 96% of Bellingham Public Schools employees, which was one of the 20 highest rates in the state, to 81% in Lynden, which ranks among the bottom third of the state in terms of vaccination rates.
But the Lynden School District tied with the Blaine School District for the fewest number of employees in the county who weren’t fully vaccinated and did not obtain an exemption, according to The Herald’s analysis.
Bellingham’s 98% vaccination rate among classroom employees was tied with eight other districts for the top mark in the state.
Statewide, vaccination rates for districts varied from a high of 98% in the Satsop (Grays Harbor County), Bellevue, Lake Washington, Orcas Island and Shoreline school districts to a low of 41% in the Onion Creek School District in Stevens County. Eight school districts did not comply with reporting requirements and three others reported data that was inconsistent with district personnel reporting, according to the state data.
Here is what the state data and The Herald’s analysis showed for Whatcom County district:
Bellingham Public Schools
Total employees: 1,616 in the district, including 1,004 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 96% (approximately 1,550) in the district, including 98% (approximately 984) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: Less than 1% in the district (fewer than 16) and 0% in classrooms.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: 1% (approximately 16) in the district, including 1% (approximately 10) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 3% (approximately 48) in the district, including 2% (approximately 20) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: Five in the district, including three in classrooms.
Blaine School District
Total employees: 329 in the district, including 190 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 90% (approximately 296) in the district, including 94% (approximately 179) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: 1% in the district (approximately three), including 1% (approximately two) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: 1% (approximately three) in the district, including 0% in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 8% (approximately 26) in the district, including 6% (approximately 11) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: one in the district, and none in classrooms.
Ferndale School District
Total employees: 670 in the district, including 442 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 88% (approximately 590) in the district, including 92% (approximately 407) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: 0% in the district.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: Less than 1% (fewer than seven) in the district, including less than 1% (fewer than four) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 11% (approximately 74) in the district, including 8% (approximately 35) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: Two in the district, including one in classrooms.
Lynden School District
Total employees: 496 in the district, including 337 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 81% (approximately 402) in the district, including 82% (approximately 276) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: 0% in the district.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: 1% (approximately five) in the district, including 1% (approximately three) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 18% (approximately 89) in the district, including 17% (approximately 57) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: One in the district, including none in classrooms.
Meridian School District
Total employees: 292 in the district, including 164 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 90% (approximately 263) in the district, including 91% (approximately 149) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: 1% in the district (approximately three) and 1% (approximately two) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: Less than 1% (fewer than 3) in the district, including 1% (approximately two) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 9% (approximately 26) in the district, including 8% (approximately 13) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: One in the district, including none in classrooms.
Mount Baker School District
Total employees: 370 in the district, including 221 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 85% (approximately 315) in the district, including 90% (approximately 199) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: 1% in the district (approximately four) and 1% (approximately two) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: 1% (approximately four) in the district, including 1% (approximately two) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 12% (approximately 44) in the district, including 8% (approximately 18) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: 13 in the district, including 12 in classrooms.
Nooksack Valley School District
Total employees: 287 in the district, including 192 in classrooms.
Fully vaccinated employees: 83% (approximately 238) in the district, including 85% (approximately 179) in classrooms.
Partially vaccinated employees: 0% in the district.
Employees obtaining medical exemption: 2% (approximately six) in the district, including 1% (approximately two) in classrooms.
Employees obtaining religious exemption: 15% (approximately 43) in the district, including 14% (approximately 27) in classrooms.
Non-compliant (no vaccination or exemption) employees: One in the district, including none in classrooms.
This story was originally published November 7, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
