Bellingham Schools Discuss Closing Carl Cozier and Columbia

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  Bellingham Schools Discuss Closing Carl Cozier and Columbia“Your feedback, our responses and next steps Oct 13 2026 A Message from Superintendent Greg Baker Dear students, staff, families and community members, We appreciate the conversations, questions and input shared since we presented our plans to close Carl Cozier and Columbia.”
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  Superintendent Greg Baker outlines feedback and rationale for closing Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools amid declining enrollment and budget constraints.“We appreciate the conversations, questions and input shared since we presented our plans to close Carl Cozier and Columbia. Thanks to those who attended our small group meetings with our staff and board members. I want to summarize some of the feedback we are hearing and offer some responses and reflections. People love their schools. Even those who offer criticism of me or this plan often will start with “just so you know, I love my school,” or “My kids love school or their (fill in the blank…teacher, principal, coach, bus driver).” I cannot stress enough how important this is: we need to keep our eye on the experience of our children. Our staff are so dedicated, loving and inspiring. This provides confidence that when children transition to new schools, whether it’s into kindergarten, sixth or ninth grades or due to closure, our students will be taken care of and loved. Some community members do not feel heard. While we have shared substantial information and provided multiple opportunities for public input, some people want more direct, two-way communication. They want to understand concerns were received, how those concerns were evaluated and why particular suggestions were or were not incorporated into the district’s plan. Some have shared ideas on the proposed boundaries and want to ensure feedback is heard. Questions related to process including the superintendent’s role as secretary to the board, how community members can communicate concerns directly to board members, and how the public can better understand board deliberations/how there can be increased visibility into the board of directors’ decision-making. Some expressed frustration that public comment at board meetings does not receive an immediate response. Changing course: Someone recently questioned whether I have lost my way, suggesting that at some point during my 17 years as superintendent of Bellingham Public Schools, I have wandered off course. The criticism suggests that if the district is planning to close schools, then something is awry. The other critique is that we asked voters to consider a bond in 2022 to start planning for rebuilds of Carl Cozier, Columbia and Roosevelt elementary schools (among other projects), so we should make good on our commitment and rebuild these schools, not close them. Difficult but necessary: We do not want to close schools, but there is an understanding by many that it’s what needs to happen for efficiency and financial reasons. Enrollment is down. State funding is inadequate. Some of our schools are very old and in need of major repair and replacement while newer schools have empty classrooms. People are having fewer children and fewer people with children are moving to Bellingham. There is an acknowledgment that this is a hard but needed change. Responding to these concerns I’d like to give some context and respond to some of these concerns and themes. The Bellingham Promise: When the landscape changes beyond our control, it’s easy to feel lost. We experienced this during the pandemic as well. When we lack control or resources, we turn to our compass and roadmap: The Bellingham Promise. Our strategic plan guides our staff, our school board and our community – and me – to be steadfast in our collective commitment to students. Some say closing a school is the antithesis of the Promise. If all children should be loved, why would we move them into a different school? I have a different perspective. I consider all children across our district, and it’s difficult for me to defend maintaining and funding old schools in need of repair when we have empty classrooms in many of our schools, especially some of our newer schools. I know closing schools is hard and this plan has created sadness and friction in our community. I wouldn’t propose it if I didn’t think it was the right th”
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  Bellingham Public Schools announced plans to close Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools, citing declining enrollment and state funding challenges. Superintendent Greg Baker stated the district must address empty classrooms in newer schools while older facilities require costly repairs.“We appreciate the conversations, questions and input shared since we presented our plans to close Carl Cozier and Columbia.”
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  The district acknowledges community concerns about school closures, with some residents expressing frustration over lack of direct communication and immediate responses to public input. Baker emphasized that closing schools is a necessary step for efficiency, not a deviation from the district's strategic plan, the Bellingham Promise.“Some community members do not feel heard. While we have shared substantial information and provided multiple opportunities for public input, some people want more direct, two-way communication. They want to understand concerns were received, how those concerns were evaluated and why particular suggestions were or were not incorporated into the district’s plan. Some have shared ideas on the proposed boundaries and want to ensure feedback is heard. Questions related to process including the superintendent’s role as secretary to the board, how community members can communicate concerns directly to board members, and how the public can better understand board deliberations/how there can be increased visibility into the board of directors’ decision-making. Some expressed frustration that public comment at board meetings does not receive an immediate response.”

Your feedback, our responses and next steps Oct 13 2026 A Message from Superintendent Greg Baker Dear students, staff, families and community members, We appreciate the conversations, questions and input shared since we presented our plans to close Carl Cozier and Columbia. Thanks to those who attended our small group meetings with our staff and board members. I want to summarize some of the feedback we are hearing and offer some responses and reflections. People love their schools. Even those who offer criticism of me or this plan often will start with “just so you know, I love my school,” or “My kids love school or their (fill in the blank…teacher, principal, coach, bus driver).” I cannot stress enough how important this is: we need to keep our eye on the experience of our children. Our staff are so dedicated, loving and inspiring. This provides confidence that when children transition to new schools, whether it’s into kindergarten, sixth or ninth grades or due to closure, our students will be taken care of and loved. Some community members do not feel heard. While we have shared substantial information and provided multiple opportunities for public input, some people want more direct, two-way communication. They want to understand concerns were received, how those concerns were evaluated and why particular suggestions were or were not incorporated into the district’s plan. Some have shared ideas on the proposed boundaries and want to ensure feedback is heard. Questions related to process including the superintendent’s role as secretary to the board, how community members can communicate concerns directly to board members, and how the public can better understand board deliberations/how there can be increased visibility into the board of directors’ decision-making. Some expressed frustration that public comment at board meetings does not receive an immediate response. Changing course: Someone recently questioned whether I have lost my way, suggesting that at some point during my 17 years as superintendent of Bellingham Public Schools, I have wandered off course. The criticism suggests that if the district is planning to close schools, then something is awry. The other critique is that we asked voters to consider a bond in 2022 to start planning for rebuilds of Carl Cozier, Columbia and Roosevelt elementary schools (among other projects), so we should make good on our commitment and rebuild these schools, not close them. Difficult but necessary: We do not want to close schools, but there is an understanding by many that it’s what needs to happen for efficiency and financial reasons. Enrollment is down. State funding is inadequate. Some of our schools are very old and in need of major repair and replacement while newer schools have empty classrooms. People are having fewer children and fewer people with children are moving to Bellingham. There is an acknowledgment that this is a hard but needed change. Responding to these concerns I’d like to give some context and respond to some of these concerns and themes. The Bellingham Promise: When the landscape changes beyond our control, it’s easy to feel lost. We experienced this during the pandemic as well. When we lack control or resources, we turn to our compass and roadmap: The Bellingham Promise. Our strategic plan guides our staff, our school board and our community – and me – to be steadfast in our collective commitment to students. Some say closing a school is the antithesis of the Promise. If all children should be loved, why would we move them into a different school? I have a different perspective. I consider all children across our district, and it’s difficult for me to defend maintaining and funding old schools in need of repair when we have empty classrooms in many of our schools, especially some of our newer schools. I know closing schools is hard and this plan has created sadness and friction in our community. I wouldn’t propose it if I didn’t think it was the right th
Source: https://www.bellinghamschools.org/all-news/p/~board/2026-2027-news/post/your-feedback-our-responses-and-next-steps