Whatcom County health officer makes recommendation for how the school year should begin

Bellingham, Ferndale, Mount Baker and Meridian schools will follow the Whatcom County Health Officer’s recommendation to public school superintendents and private school administrators that they plan for remote learning for the start of the school year due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

Other districts are meeting soon to discuss the recommendation.

“I do not feel it is safe to open schools in September for traditional classroom learning,” Dr. Greg Stern is quoted as saying in a news release Tuesday night, Aug. 4, from the Whatcom County Health Department.“I expect that our current infection rate and its ongoing increase will not slow or reverse enough to allow for safe operations this fall. Given this, and the lead time needed to prepare for school operations, I strongly recommend schools prepare for remote learning to start the school year.”