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Ferndale residents speak up at school board meeting Katie Dorr: students ‘should have a curriculum and material t at re e ts diverse perspectives’ By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
FERNDALE — It was a full house at the Mountain View Learning Center on March 26 as several Ferndale residents made comments during the Ferndale School Board’s monthly meeting. Recently, the Fern-
dale School Board has discussed diversity, inclusion and state versus local control. For some in attendance, those discussions have proven controversial. Shortly after the meeting started, the board ceded the floor to the district’s citizens for public comment. One of the first people to stand up to the podium was Katie Dorr, a technology integration expert at the Mount Vernon School District and former Ferndale School District employee. Dorr began her comments by holding out a printed photo of a relative of hers, who is an LGBTQ person and a former Ferndale student, stating that the student is currently enrolled at Whatcom
County Community College with plans to pursue a career in biochemistry before transitioning into medicine. “I want you to remember his face,” Dorr said. “I hope he takes his oath as a doctor more seriously than some of you have taken your oath as school board members. I also hope that he continues to achieve his goals when he is beside your bedside and has more empathy for you than you have for him.” Dorr said she sent two letters to the Ferndale School Board that further details her thoughts regarding their Feb. 27 meeting as well as shares her experiences living with the LGBTQ member of her family.
“I ask you to reflect today,” Dorr said to the board. “What is so scary about learning about LGBTQ contributions to our community? How far does your local control reach? Who’s views are you trying to eliminate? Eliminating different viewpoints because it doesn’t fit into a board member’s political belief is irresponsible and does not create a graduate who can engage with ideas outside of the Ferndale school system.” Dorr later said that she has not always felt this way about the Ferndale School Board and that it has only been recent comments from some of its current members that See Speak Up on A5
“I want you to remember his face,” Katie Dorr, a former employee of the Ferndale School District, told the district’s governing board on March 26. “I hope he takes his oath as a doctor more seriously than some of you have taken your oath as school board members.” (Luke Seymour/ Ferndale Record)
Ferndale announces April 10 skatepark groundbreaking
The City of Ferndale invites the public to a groundbreaking at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 to help kick off construction of Metalworks Skatepark, a highly anticipated project for the Ferndale community. (Courtesy City of Ferndale)
FHS project open house FERNDALE — Ferndale School District invites the community to celebrate the rebuild completion of Ferndale High School with a ribbon cutting and open house at 5:30 p.m. May 30. The rebuilding of the high school is the largest portion of the district’s 2019 voter-approved bond. Ferndale High School is at 5830 Golden Eagle Drive. According to a March 29 press release from Celina Rodriguez the district’s executive director of communications, the 132,248 square-foot three-level design provides permanent classroom space for 1,300 students. The new campus “provides a secure, technology-equipped learning environment where students and staff can learn in comfort,” Rodriguez stated. According to Rodriguez, project highlights include two brand-new gyms for physical education, athletics and events, a career and technical education (CTE) wing filled with equipment preparing students for
their future endeavors, a threestory academic wing with 52 classrooms and science labs, collaboration spaces where students can team up on projects, and a spacious commons area with ample natural light. According to Rodriguez, pieces of the old high school were incorporated into the new building to honor the pride of our community into this new chapter. Just outside of the main building, there is also a CTE village, where students can take handson courses such as agricultural science and aquaculture, and the new Golden Eagle Stadium and accompanying grandstands. The campus was designed by Dykeman Architects and completed by Cornerstone GCI. Additional bond funded projects include secure entryways at every district building; significant roof repairs at Vista Middle School and Central and Custer elementaries; new fencing, standardized heating and ventilation controls, and new hot water tanks at various buildings.
FERNDALE — The City of Ferndale invites the public to a groundbreaking at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 to help kick off construction of Metalworks Skatepark, a highly anticipated project for the Ferndale community. The groundbreaking will take place at the future skatepark location at the 5500 block of Second Avenue, across the street from the old American Legion building. Parking will be available at the Phillips66 Sports Complex. The event will begin promptly at 2 p.m. with opening remarks and speeches, with the official groundbreaking at approximately 2:20 p.m. The City of Ferndale would like to welcome all community members, skaters – thrashers and posers, stakeholders, and project supporters in celebrating this project milestone for the Metalworks Skatepark. Attendees will include Mayor Greg Hansen, city council members, elected officials, city staff and project partners. The community is encouraged to participate in this eagerly awaited event. Listen to members of the project team, have the opportunity to leave your mark on the official construction project sign, watch as the city breaks ground, and take home a limited-edition Metalworks Skatepark sticker.
PeaceHealth to open Lynden Clinic WHATCOM — PeaceHealth will open its Lynden primary and specialty care clinic on April 15. This new clinic “significantly expanding healthcare options and access to communities in north and east Whatcom County,” said Anne Williams of PeaceHealth, Northwest network in a March 9 press release. The 22,500-squarefoot, single-story clinic is at 8844 Benson Road. The opening caps off several years of planning and construction and will bring much-needed services to residents of Lynden and other areas of north and east Whatcom County, Williams stated. The clinic houses primary care, including family medicine, pediatrics and same-day
services, as well as cardiology, orthopedics, behavioral health and OB/GYN/midwifery. The existing orthopedics and OB/GYN clinics at 1610 Grove St., Lynden, will relocate to the new facility. On-site imaging and lab services will be available in partnership with Mount Baker Imaging and Quest Diagnostics. “We are thrilled to open this beautiful facility, and excited to help meet the healthcare needs of our north Whatcom County communities,” said Denise Walker, vice president of operations for PeaceHealth Medical Group, Northwest network. “We recognize how rapidly the area is growing and we want to ensure the community has access to highquality primary and
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specialty care for many years to come.” The new clinic will eventually employ about 50 caregivers and providers and serve 150 to 200 patients daily. Lynden Clinic will be the first PeaceHealth clinic with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Design elements such as solar panels, EV charging, native plants and a bioswale stormwater runoff system demonstrate PeaceHealth’s commitment to sustainability. A community open house will be held on Thursday, May 16, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All are welcome for tours and refreshments. PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, is a nonprofit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Wash-
ington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, more than 3,000 providers, more than 160 clinics and nine medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit peacehealth.org.
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