Whatcom schools to close next week by governor’s executive order
A day after announcing the closing of schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Jay Inslee extended that mandate to all schools across the state, including all schools in Whatcom County.
Inslee said he hopes the executive order will slow the spread of COVID-19 across Washington state.
“We concluded that a county-by-county approach to this epidemic is not sufficient,” Inslee said in a press conference Friday, March 13. “We need to get ahead of this wave, and we need to do it today.”
The closure will include all public and private schools for levels K through 12 in every district across the state, Inslee said, and must begin by Tuesday, March 17, and will extend through April 24.
Inslee said a restriction also will be placed on all colleges, universities, community colleges and technical schools, preventing in-person education on campus through at least April 24.
Inslee said he made the decision after statewide confirmed coronavirus positive tests climbed by more than 400 in four days and deaths in the state climbed to 37 on Friday. He added that COVID-19 has now spread to 15 of the state’s counties that combine to represent 75% of the state’s population.
Inslee also expanded the prohibition on large gatherings of more than 250 people to include the entire state.
Bellingham Public Schools announced that it would begin the closure a day earlier than Inslee mandated — on Monday, March 16. The Blaine, Lynden, Meridian, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley districts said they also will be closed Monday.
The Ferndale School District announced in a release that its schools will remain open Monday, before closing Tuesday.
“Whatcom County public schools know that the past few weeks have been stressful for many in our communities because of the continued spread of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19,” the Ferndale release said. “We are grateful to all our staff and families for navigating this situation alongside our school districts.”
The Whatcom County Health Department said a release that it was in alignment with Inslee’s mandate to close schools. It added that community measures, such as canceling events and gatherings are most effective in reducing outbreaks or pandemics when implemented early.
“Working together to slow the spread of pandemic COVID-19 requires timely, burdensome and disruptive measures, and we also need to prepare to support those affected adversely by these actions,” Whatcom County Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern said in the release. “Our overall goal is to minimize damage from the pandemic and assure we are able to recover as quickly and as fully as possible when it is over.”
The health department said that it consulted with the superintendents of all the county’s school districts to consider the impact on student learning, continuing nutrition services, childcare concerns and the needs of homeless students and that it will continue to address those concerns.
“I acknowledge the gravity of this decision; we know our students, families and community are generally best served when school is open and running, especially those who are most vulnerable,” Bellingham Public School Superintendent Dr. Greg Baker wrote in his district’s release. “The decision to close raises all kinds of questions and implications including childcare needs for our staff and families, school meals, graduation, and much more.
“We are working on plans to address a range of impacts, and we will be in communication as we work through these challenges.”
Baker suggested all students, families and staff continue to check email and the district website regarding plans for education during the closure as well as updates to student learning, childcare and nutrition. Other districts made similar recommendations for their respective communities.
Ferndale School District Superintendent Dr. Linda Quinn said in a letter to families many of that district’s plans for food service, childcare, resources and expectations for staff and learning plans would begin coming out next week. Other Whatcom County districts said they also hoped to have plans in place next week.
“I have been using this phrase a lot lately: ‘These are unprecedented times,” Quinn wrote in the letter. “Rising to the occasion in a time of public health concern sometimes requires bold action.”
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 1:59 PM.
