Blaine schools gear up for months of remote education after new state order

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The Blaine school district anticipated governor Jay Inslee’s April 6 decision to extend the state’s K-12 school closures for the rest of the school year. Blaine superintendent Christopher Granger said that while remote learning can’t replace being in a classroom, the district is already planning for the rest of the year. 

“This is about what we expected,” he said. “It’s not ideal but it’s better to know and be able to move forward and get a plan going for the remainder of the year.”

On March 13, Inslee ordered schools in Washington state to close from March 17 until April 24 to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The Blaine school district’s last day of in-person education was March 13. Since then, the district has offered optional “enrichment opportunities” on its website and many teachers have contacted students and families. On Monday, April 13, the district will start on a more rigorous education plan. 

Though Inslee and state schools superintendent Chris Reykdal touted the challenge as an opportunity for innovation and stressed the importance of improved internet connectivity in meeting the challenge, Blaine schools aren’t waiting for improved internet. 

“That’s our biggest challenge. There are some areas in our district where internet is a real challenge, even for staff,” Granger said. 

Some parts of the district don’t even have reliable cell phone reception, so the district is using a variety of techniques to reach its 2,150 students. Schools sent paper packets out to students who need them on April 6 through the mail, and it’s distributing about 400 Chromebook laptops to students, as well as mobile hotspots that allow computers to access the internet through cell phone data. Teachers with subpar internet access are recording lessons on video, saving them to USB drives and mailing those to students. 

In the April 6 announcement, in which the state joined at least 13 others in canceling classes for the rest of the school year, Inslee recognized that a system of remote learning will be unfair. Access to technology, home life and other factors will affect learning.

“To some degree, I suppose we have to make a decision. Are any of our children going to get an education or are none of our children going to get an education?” he said. “We’ve decided to give the most kids possible an education.”

The governor asked districts to get as creative as possible in meeting student needs. His order includes a provision that makes it possible for districts to consider on-site education for some students who have severe challenges, he said, and some form of summer school may be an option for districts “once we get over this pandemic,” he said. 

Through reaching out to families and evaluating its education programs constantly, the district will try to make instruction as equitable as possible, Granger said. 

“If a family has a need, we want to hear from them and we want to make sure we get the need addressed or find the opportunities to help them,” he said. “We know distance learning is not a substitute for being in school, but we’re trying to do the best we can.”

Blaine schools will use a pass/fail model, even for high school. Based on what Reykdal has said, Granger thinks that won’t affect seniors’ ability to graduate or get into college. 

Inslee and Reykdal have said that seniors who were on track to graduate when schools closed will graduate. They reiterated that during the April 6 announcement, and Inslee also said that teachers would make independent decisions about students’ knowledge and ability to meet standards. 

“The state board of education is poised to waive some of those credits for students who absolutely need that,” Reykdal said in a YouTube Q&A earlier on April 6. “But it does require a good faith effort. We can’t just put our pencils and pens down and say, hey, we’re done. We’ve got to work through this. Seniors, I’m counting on you to keep learning.”

For college-bound students, the ACT and SAT will be pushed back, Reykdal said. For AP classes, Reykdal said the Advanced Placement program will continue and the organization is working on shrinking the test so that students can do it in a 45-minute window, he said. 

“I actually think it’s very good that this country is now examining its obsession with standardized tests for admission to higher education,” Reykdal said. He added that his office is working with colleges and testing companies to make the admission process easier. 

“Obviously grades are still important for scholarships and other things, and we’re committed to that, but right now we’re unified across the sectors,” he said. “We’re trying to make kids successful and the testing companies have recognized that in some way as well.” 

The governor did not rule out the possibility of some form of in-person gatherings at schools before the end of the school year. “If there is any opportunity to bring students back for a few days later this year, including graduation ceremonies for seniors, we’re going to explore that option as the evidence continues to come in,” he said. 

Either way, Granger said the district would find a way to celebrate its seniors. 

“We’re proud of them and proud that they’re Borderites,” he said. “We’ll partner to find a way to honor them in some fashion, because they’re certainly very important to us and our school community.”

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