Parents proposing new school model

Parents in Point Roberts have voiced long-standing frustrations over the state of local public education, citing declining enrollment and a lack of community engagement from the school district. Now, a group of local parents is working to change that.

Currently, the Point Roberts Primary School just serves students through second grade and has only five students attending. When students reach third grade, they face a daily bus ride across two U.S.-Canada borders and back to attend school in Blaine. Parents say this arrangement puts students at risk and makes families feel forgotten by the Blaine School District.

At a community meeting in January, then-superintendent Dr. Christopher Granger heard from residents who felt neglected and disheartened by the school’s dwindling numbers. “One of the big attitudes was, ‘Let’s just shut it down,’ but I was like, well, instead of tearing it down, let’s rebuild it,” said Tennessee Briand, a Point Roberts mother and local advocate.

Briand has been searching for solutions for her own family and the broader community. She’s championing the Parent Partnership Program (PPP), an alternative public education model that already operates successfully all over Washington, including in Bellingham. In May, she met with district staff to explore the potential for bringing the program to Point Roberts.

PPP students are officially enrolled in the public school system but complete most of their education through structured instruction tailored to family needs. They typically receive 15 hours of instruction each week, either in-person or online, led by certified teachers. The rest of the schedule is more flexible. The program would use the existing school building and initially serve students in grades 3 through 8, with long-term hopes of expanding to high school.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” said Briand. “We’re just saying, hey, this exists. It’s working for other communities, and if anyone needs this right now, it’s us.”

Although Dr. Granger was hesitant to implement the program, new Interim Superintendent Dan Chaplik has signaled strong interest and said the program could potentially begin this September. “He is excited to work with us to provide our children with the opportunities they deserve,” said Briand, who recently spoke with Chaplik by phone. He’s scheduled to visit Point Roberts for the first time on July 31 to tour the school and meet with families interested in PPP.

In the meantime, Briand and a group of local mothers have launched the Point Roberts Eagles Club, a free, volunteer-led program inspired by the Boys and Girls Club model. The club hosts weekly educational activities and currently serves about eight children from kindergarten through age 11.

“The Point Roberts Eagles Club will foster a sense of community by meeting weekly at the community center, where the children will participate in organized activities with an emphasis on learning and fun,” said Briand. The club meets Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. and will continue even if the PPP launches this fall.

Interested families can contact the Eagles Club or inquire about the PPP by emailing pointrobertseaglesclub@gmail.com.

“It would have a big impact on our community, because it is such a deterrent for people who look at moving here with young families,” Briand said. “For us to be able to have our kids in our community five minutes from our home is so important for all parents.”