Bellingham Students Walk Out Over School Closures

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — More than 150 students gathered outside Bellingham Public Schools district offices Monday, Nov. 2, as a part of a planned “walkout” protesting proposed closures of Columbia and Carl Cozier elementary schools.

The walkout began around noon, with participation peaking around 1 p.m. Students from several Bellingham high schools joined the demonstration, including a group from Squalicum High School that walked approximately two miles from campus to the district office at 1985 Barkley Boulevard.

Squalicum students Sam Andreas and Mick O’Shaughnessy organized the walkout and promoted the demonstration through social media videos in the days leading up to the protest.

Protesters called on the district to keep Columbia and Carl Cozier elementary schools open. They also raised concerns about district leadership, administrative salaries and community involvement in selecting an interim superintendent.

Among their demands were the removal of Superintendent Greg Baker, adjustments to high-ranking administrative salaries and the formation of a community-led committee to help select and oversee an interim superintendent.

Students take their concerns to school board

Then later in the evening at the district offices, Andreas and O’Shaughnessy addressed the Bellingham School Board during its Monday evening meeting.

O’Shaughnessy spoke about the broader impact of the proposed closures, arguing that elementary schools serve as important community gathering places and provide more than just educational services.

“We are here tonight not only to fight for Columbia Elementary School, but to fight for our district as a whole. The students, the families and communities that rely on schools like Columbia Elementary.”

— Mick O’Shaughnessy

“Columbia Elementary School isn’t just a number in our budget, or an enrollment rate to be studied,” O’Shaughnessy said. “It’s a connection point for families and students alike. A place where students begin to love learning, a place where parents know their students are safe and supported, and a place where teachers pour their heart and soul into work every day.”

O’Shaughnessy challenged district leaders to consider the effects of closing schools beyond enrollment figures and budget considerations.

“Closing or not closing schools isn’t about the numbers, it’s about whether or not we want to tear apart parts of our communities that have been here for decades,” O’Shaughnessy said.

The student-led demonstration comes amid growing opposition to the district’s proposed elementary school closures, with students and families now bringing their concerns directly to district leadership.

Why Bellingham schools are considering closures

Bellingham Public Schools has cited declining elementary enrollment and aging school facilities as reasons for considering the closures of Columbia and Carl Cozier elementary schools.

The district projects a 20% decline in elementary school-aged enrollment over recent years. It also points to the cost of renovating or replacing aging facilities as a growing financial challenge.

Closing the two schools could save the district approximately $2.2 million, which officials say would help protect staffing and educational programs at other schools.

However, the proposal has drawn opposition from parents, students and neighborhood advocates, including the Bellingham Neighborhood Schools Coalition.

Opponents argue that neighborhood schools provide more than classroom instruction. They offer students opportunities to walk or bike to school independently while maintaining connections with families and the surrounding community.

Some families have also questioned the district’s long-term enrollment projections and whether closing neighborhood schools represents the best solution to its financial challenges.

The Bellingham School Board began holding public hearings on the proposed closures Monday evening, Nov. 2, starting with Columbia Elementary. The hearings give families, students and community members an opportunity to address the board before it considers the proposed changes.

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