Ferndale Schools faculty reflect and look forward
Ferndale boys basketball loses to Lynden, 56-44
Dominguez, Larrabee and others share their insights. — News, A2
Golden Eagles host Lakewood on Jan. 3 at 7:15 p.m. — Sports, B1
DECEMBER 25, 2024
SINCE 1885
FERNDALE, WASHINGTON • $1.50
Ferndale School Board meets with Lummi Nation’s education board By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
FERNDALE — On Dec. 17, the Ferndale School Board and the Lummi Nation’s education board discussed Native American student achievement and participation in Ferndale schools. The meeting allowed the two boards to discuss their joint commitment to foster academic growth amongst indigenous students in the school district. The meeting started
with Ferndale Assessment Coordinator Bobby Olsen giving a presentation concerning the data and statistics that reflected both the progress made by Ferndale’s native students and the academic challenges they still face. Before that presentation, Ferndale School District Superintendent Kristi Dominguez had a few words of thanks for district staff. “Our goal tonight is to present joint policy and procedures but also to
look at the data,” Dominguez said. “Bobby Olsen will be sharing that, but there’s another type of data that we often forget about and that’s the story. So I just wanted to give a special shout-out to our staff who support our native students every single day. They’re strong advocates and they’re making things happen every day for our kids.” Some of the statistics in Olsen’s presentation
Members of the Lummi Education Board and the Ferndale School Board met on Dec. 17. (Luke Seymour/ Ferndale Record)
See Lummi Nation on A3
Ferndale School Board reorganizes leadership for 2025
Ferndale High School student renovates heritage society jail
Kevin Erickson will continue as Ferndale School Board president in 2025. Erickson is pictured at right with Superintendent Kristi Dominguez. (Luke Seymour/ Ferndale Record)
Directors approve water action plan, new playground for Mountain View Learning Center By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
FERNDALE — Kevin Erickson will continue as the Ferndale School Board’s president for 2025. Peggy Uppiano will continue as the board’s vice president in 2025. On Dec. 17, the Ferndale School Board discussed, considered and voted for its annual reorganization. Which means it could either select a new president and vice president or keep the same leadership for the new year. After he read the district’s policy on the vote, 1210, Erickson opened the floor for nominations. The board voted almost unanimously for him to remain as president, although Council Member Nancy Button, who voted for Uppiano to become the board’s president. After the vote was confirmed, the board then initiated the vote for vice president. The board voted unanimously to keep Uppiano as vice president. Also on Dec. 17, the Ferndale School board made the following decisions: • Adopted a new water action plan to reduce drinking water lead concentration down to five parts per billion, (ppb.) In 2021, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that
required all school drinking water outlets installed before 2016 be tested for lead contamination. The bill required that all school drinking fountains be tested by July 2026. Some of the requirements for the new action plan include a necessity for the plan to be developed in consultation with the state Department of Health. The action plan also stated that, if test results yield elevated lead concentration in the water, the district must have mitigation measures for schools to implement as well as a schedule for remediation activities. • A new playground will come to the Mountain View Learning Center as the board accepted a contract to construct the new playground sometime in the next year. According to the Ferndale School District website, The Ferndale School District was selected and recommended through a competitive bidding process to be recommended for funding to be used to purchase and install a playground that is compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act regulations. Funding for the project, which the agenda specified is not to exceed $700,000 will be provided by the Community Priorities Fund. Funding for this playground equipment allows for children with special needs to work toward a variety of kindergarten readiness activities through play-based learning curriculum used in FSD’s early education programs. -- Contact Luke Seymour at luke@lyndentribune.com.
By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
FERNDALE — For most high school students in America, the oncoming holiday season represents a time where they can cut back and let loose for a few weeks. However, for Ferndale High School student Josh Anders, the real work is yet to come. In January, Anders will receive his official Eagle Scout Board of Review, a formal meeting that represents a major step forward in the advancement process of a Boy Scout. One of the most important requirements of becoming an Eagle Scout is the completion of a service project. For scouts, this is a significant volunteer community project. According to the Boy Scouts of America website, the service project is an opportunity for scouts to plan, develop and lead a project that benefits their community or a nonprofit organization. The project should demonstrate leadership and requires a significant number of hours to complete. Scouts will need to complete the Eagle Scout Board of Review after completing their Eagle Scout project. Last summer, when looking for his service project on, Anders returned to one of his favorite haunts in Ferndale: Pioneer Village.
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Ferndale senior Josh Anders will receive his official Eagle Scout Board of Review in January. The Eagle Scout Board of Review is a formal meeting that represents a major step forward in the advancement of a Boy Scout. (Luke Seymour/Ferndale Record)
“I’ve been involved with a lot of projects over the years with the Boy Scouts,” Anders said. “But this one being my service project, it’s been one of my biggest ones yet.” During his freshman year of high school, Anders helped out at the Ferndale Heritage Society as a favor for one of his hometown’s cultural institutions.
Sports • B1 Year In Review • A6-8
“I grew up in Ferndale and am a proud third-generation Whatcom County resident,” Anders said. “So I always loved going to Pioneer Park whenever they were having their Old Fashioned Christmas or the Old Settlers Picnic. I was always fascinated by the history they had and wanted See Anders on A2
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