Whatcom gets this share of $195 million in federal funds for online teaching

Whatcom County school districts received around $4.15 million in federal funding from the CARES Act to help cover costs incurred by the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Nearly $195 million in federal funds was allocated to Washington school districts to aid schools in conducting online and distance instruction in the fall, according to a news release. Bellingham led Whatcom County cities with $1.654 million of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief.

Full Whatcom County districts breakdown:

• Bellingham: $1,654,193.
• Blaine: $460,414.
• Ferndale: $763,294.
• Lynden: $273,982.
• Mount Baker: $488,092.
• Nooksack Valley: $285,267.
• Meridian: $231,700.

The CARES Act also provided an additional $21 million to the OSPI for impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but only a limited amount of these funds, $2.5 million, have been released by the Office of Financial Management. These funds will go towards providing support and training to educators and families on how to effectively prepare for a full semester of online learning.

“Last spring, we heard consistently from educators that they needed more training on how to effectively use online learning management systems,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said. “We also heard from students, parents, and guardians that they were overwhelmed by the variety of systems educators were using to provide online learning.”

“Our ESDs will provide educators with training in a handful of learning management systems consistent with guidance we have already sent to districts to simplify their remote learning management systems for families.”