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Bellingham Public Schools facts: bonds, task force work, elections

We are sharing the following information to provide clarity and facts about past bonds, elections and the work and recommendations of facilities planning task forces, which helped inform projects for bonds.

We would like to correct disinformation and misinformation that is being shared specifically about the District Office, timelines, funding and transparency.

Please see information below.

2006 bond

The old District Office on Dupont Street was slated for seismic retrofitting on the 2006 bond. In 2011, after citizen input, those monies were transferred to the more urgent “student-focused” rebuild of Birchwood Elementary School. 

2013 bond

  • Our Facilities planning task force in 2012 recommended a number of capital projects across our district, including replacement schools and improvements, including funds to improve the District Office.
  • You can see the final recommendation and a brochure highlighting the group’s work; the District Office is included in both of these documents.
  • The school board approved a resolution in June 2013 which includes the list of projects funded by the bond, if approved. This list includes the District Office.
  • Our communications about the 2013 bond to staff, families, our extended community and the media included facts about the projects the bond would help fund.  This video is an example of one of our communications that was shared widely to show the old District Office’s condition, age and overall need for improvement.
  • In the years after the 2013 bond was approved, the district prioritized school-related rebuilds and improvements before working on renovations or replacing the District Office. In the meantime, from 2017-2019, the district was actively discussing and evaluating how, when and where to rebuild or renovate. Studies and feedback from public meetings influenced the district that building a new structure on an empty  parcel would be more efficient and likely a savings compared to trying to renovate the existing building on Dupont, given its age, condition and complexity, combined with the challenge and cost of relocating staff for one to two years. (See 2019 messages here and here.)

2018 bond

Another facilities planning task force was formed in 2016-17 school year to start planning for the next bond. At that time, the task force and district prioritized rebuilding schools, fields and other projects. Additional funding for the District Office was addressed again in 2021 by the next facilities planning task force. See below for more information.

See additional information about the 2018 bond, its projects and our communications.

2022 bond

  • The 2021 facilities planning task force recommended bond funds to complete a new District Office to respond to cost escalation since 2012 and the revised scope of the new facility to include an early childhood center (child care/preschool), the district’s tech hub and ample space for staff trainings and professional development.
  • General information about 2022 bond, which explicitly calls out using bond funds to complete the District Office. We linked to this page in numerous messages re: bond facts, which were sent to staff, families, community members and media.
  • Fact sheet, which was mailed to every residence in Bellingham and was sent home in backpack mail and in school offices, which includes reference to finishing the District Office project.
  • Due to COVID restrictions, Dr. Baker met with PTAs/parent groups and school staffs via Zoom or Teams. This was the presentation he gave throughout the fall of 2021, which includes references to the District Office.
  • The board’s bond resolution, which was approved in December 2021 ahead of the Feb. 2022 election. This also includes the District Office in the list of projects.

Other resources about the new District Office

 

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