A Message from Superintendent Greg Baker

Dear students, families, staff and community,

We regularly send updates on school construction and remodels of district facilities and fields. These projects are funded by our voter-approved bonds and benefit our students and schools, as well our community at large. Neighbors use and outside organizations rent these spaces, especially playgrounds, fields, courts and gyms. We appreciate our community’s support in these investments!

I am excited to share news about the possibility of relocating Carl Cozier within the Civic Athletic Complex, Kulshan Middle School’s new field, new renderings of the new building for Community Transitions and other projects across our district.

Continued work with the City of Bellingham to relocate Carl Cozier Elementary: City meeting Nov. 6
All are welcome to attend an open house 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Bloedel Donovan Pavilion to offer feedback to the City of Bellingham on its master planning process for Civic Athletic Complex, including a possible new location for Carl Cozier Elementary.

Our district has been working with the city for the past year to determine whether relocating Carl Cozier Elementary School within the Civic Athletic Complex could be beneficial to our school, city and extended community. Some of you will remember the message we sent last winter.

The city is in the midst of a planning process to understand potential redevelopment options within Civic as part of its master planning process. Currently, the city is focused on identifying locations to build new or expanded recreation and athletic services, including aquatics and indoor recreation facilities, in addition to the possibility of finding a new space for our school.

Representatives from Cozier are representing the school in the city’s consortium of stakeholders to provide input on the city’s master planning process; they hosted a meeting in October to listen to families. District representatives are involved in the city’s process to help represent other areas of interest, especially athletics and activities. We should have more to share with our community in the coming months.

Kulshan Middle School’s new field
KMS’ new field opened to students and our greater community in late September. We hosted an open house for neighbors last month.

Kulshan is the first middle school turf field in our district. Once fully completed, the field will be open to the community any time school is not in session or reserved by a community partner. Information about renting our facilities, including the new Kulshan field, can be found here: Facility Rental and Use – Bellingham Public Schools

The new cork infill turf surface provides a sustainable and durable future for playfields, and construction included the installation of LED lights. BPS has programmed the new lights to shine directly on the field to minimize light pollution to neighbors. Lights will be programmed only when the field is in use and not later than 10 p.m.
 
Community Transitions 
The Community Transitions Design advisory committee met during the 2023-24 school year and provided a recommendation to the superintendent at the end of the school year. With this approved recommendation, the design team is continuing their work to obtain construction permits and ultimately move forward with construction. The team is targeting a fall 2026 completion of the building on Whatcom Community College campus property on Calluna Court.

Other projects

• Cordata playground and wayfinding: Last year, the district received an ADA Equal Access grant from OSPI to help expand the Cordata playground with accessible equipment. These playground elements were installed at the beginning of this school year. In addition, the interior of Cordata has been updated with new paint colors, signage, and other softer elements to improve wayfinding and brighten up the space. The signage promotes wayfinding while giving the school a sense of identity with educational elements.
• Bellingham High School tennis courts: The tennis courts at Bellingham High were completed this summer. A sixth court was added to meet current competition standards and provide greater flexibility during school hours. These courts also received new surfacing, lighting and bleachers for spectators.
• Squalicum reader board and new cosmetology classroom: Over the summer, an existing space within Squalicum High School was renovated for the cosmetology program that was formerly housed at Bellis Fair Mall. Having the space within the school is hugely beneficial to the program. A new electronic reader board for SQHS has been designed and permitted. The new electronic reader board will be a welcome addition to the school’s entry and will be installed over the next several weeks.

• If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading, and thank you again to our Bellingham community for supporting our schools, fields and facilities!

  Greg Baker