BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – It will be several weeks before Bellingham Public Schools make a final decision on closing schools.

The district announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the school board has scheduled two public hearings before making a final vote.

The first will be centered around Columbia Elementary School, with the meeting scheduled to take place from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Monday, Nov. 2, at the district office. The second will take place the next day from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the district office to discuss Carl Cozier Elementary.

Superintendent Greg Baker announced last month that he’s recommending the district close Columbia and Carl Cozier after this school year.

If the school board follows suit, students at those two schools would be subject to new school boundaries starting in August 2027.

Current Carl Cozier students would attend Sunnyland and Wade King elementary schools, while Columbia students would attend Alderwood Elementary.

Baker says the move would save about $2.2 million, which would help the district avoid staff and program cuts amid four straight years of budget cuts and drops in enrollment.

Members of the Bellingham Neighborhood Schools Coalition have pushed back on some of the district’s statistics and analysis surrounding the potential closures, claiming that the data being presented is misleading.

The school board will have a study session at its next meeting on Thursday, Oct. 15, to examine the analysis that led to the recommendations and ask questions.

Community members can share comments with the school board without attending those public hearings via the school board’s “Listening Post” or by emailing board@bellinghamschools.org.