Bellingham Public Schools
Capital Levy Planning Committee 2025
Purpose(s)/Goal:
- Learn and understand about schools and facilities related to current and future educational program needs; the physical condition of schools & facilities; how facility maintenance & upkeep are funded; and the process associated with voter-approved measures.
- Invite feedback and support as we develop a communications and community engagement plan to share information about BPS planning, maintenance, funding and ongoing stewardship of our facilities.
- Recommend communication strategies to respond to community voice and input.
- Inform a long-range facilities maintenance and upgrade plan to the superintendent.
- Inform prioritization of projects for maintenance and upgrade that could be funded by capital levy to put before voters as early as November 2025.
- Recommend a capital levy proposal that reflects the priorities of the community.
Basis for Establishment:
- Our facilities are community assets; the district has a goal to provide a transparent planning process and communication about our stewardship of these facilities.
- BPS facilities have significant and ongoing maintenance and upgrade needs. A voter-approved capital levy provides an opportunity to budget for consistent, proactive facilities maintenance.
- A proposed 6 year levy to support maintenance of our facilities would be a refined funding effort for our community. While we cannot rely solely on state or federal funding, our district has a strong history of receiving support from local voters; bond and levy measures provide critical support towards the mission of Bellingham Public Schools.
- An ongoing maintenance and stewardship plan, with a system for review and inviting feedback, is one element of a Facilities Master Plan to guide district work to build, upgrade and maintain excellent educational spaces.
Decision-Making Process:
- Group will work toward consensus and develop recommendations to present to the superintendent.
Responsibilities:
- Review and offer feedback about proposed BPS levy for facility maintenance, repair, and upgrades
- Review and offer feedback about identified facility maintenance, repair, and upgrade needs
- Review and make recommendations about communication strategies to share facilities maintenance, repair and upgrade needs to schools community budget.
Budget Implications:
- Offer feedback for proposed levy to support BPS facilities maintenance, repairs and upgrades.
Meetings
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3:30-5:30 Tuesdays, 4-5 meetings April 1, April 15, April 29, May 27 (June 3 if needed)
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April 1, 2025
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April 15, 2025
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April 29, 2025
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May 27, 2025