Bellingham Public Schools public meetings in 2025
29 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Regular Board Meeting
The Bellingham Public Schools Board will hold a regular meeting with a consent agenda that includes approval of November expenditures, a $156,932.65 transfer from capital projects to the general fund, a contract with Raptor Technologies for a new emergency alert system, and updates to the bid requirements policy. Other items include a modification to the 2025-26 meeting schedule and contracts for fifth-grade outdoor education at North Cascades Institute. The board will also swear in re-elected members and elect officers for the annual organizational meeting.
- Resolution 31-25: Transfer $156,932.65 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund for qualifying expenses (technology vendors).
- Contract with Raptor Technologies (#2526-135) for districtwide wearable badge/desktop/app emergency alert system, replacing the aging ERG system.
- Approval of expenditures and payroll for November 2025.
- Modification of 2025-26 board meeting schedule: August 2026 meeting moved to July 23, 2026.
- Updates to Policy 6220 (Bid Requirements) and contracts for fifth-grade outdoor education at North Cascades Institute.
School Board Visit - Whatcom Middle School
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors will visit Whatcom Middle School at 810 Halleck Street on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. The visit is intended to learn how the school is delivering on The Bellingham Promise. This is not a regular board meeting and there will be no public comment time.
- Board visit to Whatcom Middle School, 810 Halleck Street, at 7:30 a.m., Dec 2 2025
Special Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Bellingham School Board will hold a special meeting at Ruth Chris Steakhouse in Seattle to discuss district initiatives and business without public comment.
- Meeting at Ruth Chris Steakhouse, 727 Pine Street, Seattle, WA
- Discussion of school district initiatives and general business
- No public comment period scheduled
- Board attending Washington State School Directors’ Association conference
Special Meeting, 3:00 p.m.
The Bellingham School Board will hold a special meeting in Seattle to hear superintendent updates and review the history of The Bellingham Promise. Public comment is not permitted at this session.
- Superintendent Updates
- History of The Bellingham Promise
- Board Advocacy
- Meeting in Seattle Hyatt Regency, Room 404
- No public comment allowed
Regular Board Meeting and Study Session
The Bellingham School Board will meet to approve consent agenda items including minutes, payroll, and policy updates. The meeting includes a study session on critical thinking and a land acknowledgment.
- Approval of October 2025 expenditures and payroll
- Transfer of $644,591.74 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Certification of 2026 excess property taxes ($42,494,731)
- Policy 1005 recommendation not to adopt
- Updates to Policy 1210, Annual Organization Meeting
School Board Visit - Columbia Elementary School
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors will visit Columbia Elementary School on November 4, 2025, to observe school operations. This is an informational visit scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and does not include a public comment period.
- Board visit to Columbia Elementary School
- Location: 2508 Utter Street, Bellingham
- Time: 7:30 a.m., November 4, 2025
School Board Special Meeting/Student Roundtable
This is a special meeting (not a regular board meeting) where the board will hold a student roundtable from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Elementary School. No public comment time is scheduled. The agenda consists only of opening items, the roundtable discussion, and adjournment.
- Student roundtable discussion at Birchwood Elementary School, 3200 Pinewood Avenue
Regular Board Meeting
The Bellingham School Board will meet to approve consent items including the final acceptance of the Kulshan Middle School playfield renovations and the sale of the former district office at 1306 Dupont St. The meeting also includes approval of September 2025 expenditures and payroll.
- Kulshan Middle School Playfield Renovations Final Acceptance
- Sale of former District Office at 1306 Dupont St
- Approval of September 2025 expenditures and payroll
- Transfer of $867,474.38 from Capital Projects to General Fund
- Updates to Board policies regarding Oath of Office and Ethical Conduct
School Board Visit - Parkview Elementary School
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors will visit Parkview Elementary School at 3030 Cornwall Avenue on October 7, 2025. This is an informational visit to observe school operations and will not include public comment.
- Board visit to Parkview Elementary (3030 Cornwall Avenue)
- Event scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on October 7, 2025
- No public comment time will be provided
Regular Board Meeting
The School Board will review August 2025 expenditures and payroll. The body is deciding on a fund transfer from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund and updates to several district policies. The board will also consider school improvement plans for five programs.
- Resolution 24-25: Transfer of $323,973.41 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Updates to Policy 2020 (Instructional Materials), 3241 (Student Discipline), 4260 (School Facilities), and 6804 (District Office Cafe)
- Approval of school improvement plans for Carl Cozier, Cordata, Roosevelt, Options, and the re-engagement program
- Approval of August 2025 expenditures and payroll
- Contract amendment with the Washington State Department of Commerce (#2324-225D)
Special Meeting
The Board of Directors will meet for a special session to discuss community engagement and board learning. This meeting is not a regular session and will not include public comment time.
- Discussion on Engaging Our Community
- Discussion on Board Learning
- Preview of the upcoming year
Regular Board Meeting with Public Hearing
The Bellingham School Board will hold a public hearing on the 2025-26 budget before voting to adopt it. The meeting also includes approving payroll, a capital projects fund transfer, and a capital projects loan.
- Public hearing on 2025-26 budget adoption
- Approval of July 2025 expenditures and payroll
- Transfer of $568,585.34 from Capital Projects to General Fund
- Approval of $18M capital projects fund loan to General Fund
- Roosevelt Elementary School rebuild project compliance resolution
Regular Board Meeting
The Bellingham Public Schools Board will vote on two resolutions (17-25 and 18-25) that propose a Supplemental Educational Support and Operations Levy and a Renovation and Replacement Capital Levy for the November 2025 special election. Other consent items include approving June meeting minutes, June 2025 expenditures and payroll, a $114,651.66 fund transfer from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund, and a Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment for the Community Transitions construction project.
- Approve minutes from the June 12, 2025 regular meeting
- Approve June 2025 expenditures and payroll
- Transfer $114,651.66 from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund (Resolution 16-25)
- Adopt levy resolutions 17-25 (Supplemental Educational Support and Operations Levy) and 18-25 (Renovation and Replacement Capital Levy) for the November 2025 ballot
- Approve Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment for the Community Transitions project
Regular Board Meeting
The Board will review several consent items, including a fund transfer for qualifying expenses and a new facility rental fee schedule for 2025-2026. The meeting also includes approvals for curriculum contracts and facility use agreements for summer programming.
- Resolution 13-25: Transfer of $59,447.88 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Approval of 2025-2026 Facility Rental Fee Schedule with increased rates
- Financial Assistance Agreement with City of Bellingham for a $89,344.00 grant
- Facility Use Agreement with Whatcom Family YMCA for Alderwood Elementary, Happy Valley Elementary, and Gordon Carter Environmental Site
- Curriculum order form with Newsela, Inc. for four middle schools
School Board Visit - Silver Beach Elementary School
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors will visit Silver Beach Elementary School at 4101 Academy Street. The purpose of the visit is to observe how the school delivers upon The Bellingham Promise. This is not a regular school board meeting and does not include public comment.
- School Board visit to Silver Beach Elementary School, 4101 Academy Street
Regular Board Meeting
The Bellingham Public Schools Board will consider a consent agenda that includes routine approvals such as meeting minutes and April 2025 expenditures. It will adopt new mastery‑based learning policies (Policies 2402‑2404) and update language and discipline policies. The agenda also contains a $106,166.34 transfer of funds from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund, a service agreement for a three‑week 2025 Migrant/MLL summer program, and a $9,300 flexible‑seating agreement for Roosevelt Elementary.
- Approval of minutes from April 17, April 23, and May 6 meetings
- Approval of April 2025 expenditures and payroll
- Adoption of Policies 2402, 2403, and 2404 for mastery‑based learning and credit
- Resolution 12‑25 transferring $106,166.34 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Vamos Outdoors Project agreement for the 2025 three‑week Migrant/MLL summer program
School Board Visit - Fairhaven Middle School
This is a school board visit to Fairhaven Middle School, not a regular meeting. No public comment time is provided. The board will observe how the school delivers on The Bellingham Promise.
- Board visit to Fairhaven Middle School at 110 Parkridge Road at 7:30 a.m. on May 6, 2025
School Board Special Meeting
The Bellingham School Board will hold a special meeting on April 23, 2025, at Penny Farthing to discuss district initiatives and general business. The meeting will not include a public comment period.
- Meeting at Penny Farthing, 1309 Cornwall Avenue
- Unstructured discussion of district initiatives
- No public comment period scheduled
Regular Board Meeting and Study Session
The Bellingham School Board will meet to approve a consent agenda including minutes, expenditures, and resolutions. The meeting includes a study session on Artificial Intelligence and a public comment period.
- Approval of expenditures and payroll for March 2025
- Transfer of $133,559.11 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Resolution modifying the July 2025 regular meeting date to July 10
- Acceptance of $51,000 donation of mobile computers from POSGuys.com
- Interagency agreement with Washington State Department of Commerce for EV charging stations
School Board Special Meeting - Re-Engagement Program
The Bellingham School Board will hold a special meeting to discuss the Re-Engagement program. The meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2025, at the District Office and will not include public comment.
- Meeting: School Board Special Meeting - Re-Engagement Program
- Date: March 26, 2025
- Location: District Office, 1985 Barkley Boulevard, Bellingham
- Type: Special meeting with no public comment time
Regular Board Meeting
The School Board will consider several consent items, including the transfer of funds between district accounts and the approval of energy audits for two schools. The board will also review personnel recommendations and service agreement amendments.
- Resolution 07-25: Transfer of $20,782.09 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Resolution 08-25: Compliance for the Community Transitions facility construction
- Energy audit contracts with McKinstry Essention, LLC for Kulshan Middle School ($40,000) and Squalicum High School ($83,400)
- Service agreement amendment with Ednetics, Inc. for broadband services through June 30, 2026
- Modification to interlocal agreement with the City of Bellingham regarding summer camp registration fees
School Board Visit - Sunnyland Elementary School
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors will visit Sunnyland Elementary School, 2800 James Street, at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This is a school visit to learn how the school delivers on The Bellingham Promise, not a regular board meeting with public comment.
- Visit to Sunnyland Elementary School
- Purpose: observe delivery of The Bellingham Promise
School Board Special Meeting/Student Roundtable
The Bellingham School Board will host a student roundtable at Squalicum High School to discuss cell phone use in schools. The meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on February 26, 2025, and will not include public comment.
- Student roundtable on cell phone use
- Meeting at Squalicum High School
- No public comment period
Regular Board Meeting with Public Hearing
The board will hold a public hearing to take testimony on selling a 1.41-acre parcel at 1306 Dupont Street. Consent items include approving January 2025 expenditures and payroll, transferring $102,717.78 from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund, accepting the $1,517,677.80 Bellingham High School tennis project, adopting a new Affirmative Action Plan 2025-2030, and modifying the regular meeting schedule.
- Public hearing on selling 1.41 acres at 1306 Dupont Street
- Resolution 04-25: Transfer $102,717.78 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Resolution 05-25: Final acceptance of Bellingham High School tennis project, $1,517,677.80
- Resolution 06-25: Change August 2025 regular meeting to August 21
- Approval of Affirmative Action Plan 2025-2030
Special Meeting
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors will hold a special meeting on February 7, 2025 at the District Office, 1985 Barkley Blvd. The agenda consists of informational discussions on policy governance, board advocacy, and superintendent updates. No public comment time is scheduled and no formal decisions or votes are listed.
- Discussion of Policy Governance
- Discussion of Board Advocacy
- Superintendent Updates
CANCELED School Board Visit - Carl Cozier Elementary
The Bellingham Public Schools Board of Directors canceled its scheduled visit to Carl Cozier Elementary on February 4, 2025, due to weather concerns. The meeting was not a regular board meeting and did not include public comment time.
- Canceled School Board Visit - Carl Cozier Elementary
- Location: 1330 Lincoln Street, Bellingham, WA
- Scheduled time: 7:30 a.m., February 4, 2025
School Board Special Meeting - Childcare
The Bellingham School Board will hold a special meeting focused on childcare as a community linkage. This is not a regular board meeting and will not include public comment. The board will discuss childcare-related topics.
- Discussion on childcare as a community linkage topic
Regular Board Meeting
The school board will vote on several consent agenda items, including a $16 million capital interfund loan to cover general fund cash flow, a $140,212.81 transfer from capital projects, and policy updates reverting Title IX sexual harassment policies after a federal court ruling. The board will also consider a request to waive the 180-day school year requirement for 2025-27, and approve contracts for fifth-grade outdoor education and an online fundraising platform.
- Resolution 01-25 authorizes up to $16,000,000 interfund loan from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund
- Resolution 02-25 transfers $140,212.81 from Capital Projects Fund to General Fund for technology expenses
- Policy updates 3205 and 5011 revert to previous Title IX policies after Jan. 9, 2025 federal court ruling
- Resolution 03-25 requests waiver of 180-day school year requirement for 2025-26 and 2026-27
- Contracts with North Cascades Institute for fifth-grade outdoor education field trips spring 2025
School Board Special Meeting
The Bellingham School Board will convene at Keenan's at the Pier to discuss district initiatives and general business. This special session is not a regular meeting and will not include a public comment period.
- Meeting at Keenan's at the Pier, 804 10th Street
- General discussion of school district initiatives and issues
- No public comment period scheduled