Bellingham students will see a commencement despite coronavirus, superintendent says
Graduating Bellingham seniors will see some kind of recognition for their accomplishments even though schools remain closed as part of measures aimed at limiting the spread of the new coronavirus, Superintendent Greg Baker said in an online chat Friday, April 24.
Baker answered questions emailed to school officials about grades, graduation, access to online classes and several other topics — including when students might be able to walk into a classroom again.
“Right now we hope we can open up next year on time,” Baker said in his hour-long talk.
Baker said that the last day of online classes likely will be June 19.
As for graduation, Baker said the Class of 2020 will see a ceremony of some kind.
“It’s not going to be like it was, the likelihood of that happening is not high,” he said.
But he urged parents and students to stay optimistic because he has seen other school districts devise creative solutions for commencement.
“This can be a real downer, and that’s true,” Baker said. “But it very well could be most unique, once-in-a-lifetime graduation that the world has ever seen.”
He said he couldn’t say for sure when the decision about next year’s opening will be made, and that officials are considering what measures they might have to take if the pandemic continues.
Bellingham school facilities closed March 16 and will remain closed through the end of the school year.
All state testing is canceled and state education officials have told schools to “do no harm” and not issue failing grades during the pandemic.
Decisions about grading and how students will be assessed will be made next week, he said.
Some parents wondered why all classes aren’t held over the Zoom online meeting application.
Baker said that more “asynchronous” or non-classroom work is being assigned because not all families have the same access to computers, wifi and a private space to participate in an online class.
He said some families only have one computer and several children in school.
Others are homeless.
And there’s also the new threat of “Zoombombing,” when an online meeting is hijacked.
“Live interaction is great. You get to interact and see people face to face,” Baker said. “I get why people want it. But not every student has the luxury of a private bedroom or a place to connect.”
Other parents worried that they weren’t doing a good job helping their children learn outside of the classroom.
“The whole world is in their situation,” he said. “Parents, I ask you to give yourselves some grace” and focus on taking care of one another.
Meanwhile, Bellingham Public Schools is contributing to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 disease in several ways said Dana Smith, district spokeswoman:
▪ It’s continuing to provide food for low-income families and supporting the distribution of groceries through the Bellingham Food Bank.
▪ Bellingham High has been turned into a homeless shelter.
▪ Officials are working with the YMCA to provide child care for essential workers at Parkview Elementary and supporting other child-care locations with nurses and guidance.
▪ Jonah Stinson, director of school safety and security, is working at Whatcom Unified Command, the multi-governmental agency that’s directing the local pandemic fight.
▪ Kristi Dominguez, executive director of teaching and learning, has been acting as a county and state leader in organizing and providing child care for essential workers.
▪ Many teachers and students have been using 3-D printers to make protective masks that were donated to Unified Command.
The date of the last day of school was corrected April 25, 2020.
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
