Facilities

Facilities Planning


2026 Capital Levy

The 2026 capital levy follows the district’s inability to complete the major project of replacing Lynden High School. Projects within the capital levy were generated by community planning groups beginning back in 2022. The current proposal focuses on extending the life of existing facilities, reducing reliance on temporary solutions, and avoiding significantly larger costs in the future. The levy would collect funds from 2027 through 2030, with projects completed over that four-year period.

A majority of the levy is dedicated to extending the life and capacity of Bernice Vossbeck and Isom elementary schools and securing a permanent home for Lynden Academy. The intent is to manage facilities proactively, avoid larger future costs, and balance the responsibility to maintain public assets with sensitivity to taxpayer impact.

Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan

The City of Lynden and Whatcom County request that the District update its Capital Facilities Plan to allow each jurisdiction to adopt it by reference. The District’s Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan was approved and adopted by the board on March 6, 2025. This document serves as a guide for planning capital projects and determining the District’s eligibility of receiving school impact fees.

Click image to access the full report.

Long Range Facilities Planning

A group of six community and staff members participated in a series of meetings starting at the beginning of 2023 with the intent to provide an inventory of current capital facilities and identify future school capital facility needs. Factors discussed and taken into consideration were student enrollment projections and building capacity in relation to facility needs. Following the completion of their work, the group presented a Long Range Facilities Plan to the Board of Directors on July 13, 2023. This document will be used as a working document to guide district decision-making and provide clarity on the need for funding of future facilities and maintenance of current facilities. The document will be reviewed annually and modified as needed to take into account any residential development that occurs, updated enrollment projections, and any unforeseen needs.

Click image to access the full report.

Bond Planning Task Force

As a result of the work done by the Facilities Planning Committee, a Bond Planning Task Force was created. An invitation to serve on this committee was sent to community members on March 13, 2023 with the objective of achieving representation of the diversity in our community. Through a series of meetings, the Bond Planning Task Force gained a full understanding of priorities and thoughtfully planned for capital spending to address current needs and those necessary to support continually improving educational practices and student services in Lynden School District. A summary of each meeting is posted below.
Following the conclusion of their work, the group presented the 2023 Bond Planning Task Force Report to the Board of Directors on August 10, 2023.

Click image to access the full report.

Facilities Planning Committee

The Facilities Planning Committee was established in the fall of 2023 as an advisory to the superintendent to prepare recommendations to the Lynden School District Board of Directors toward a proposal for the next bond election.

The Facilities Planning Committee met with the board on January 26, 2023 for a work session to discuss the Facilities Planning Report that was prepared after a series of meetings took place. Those meetings included discussions regarding building conditions through a review of the most recent State Study and Survey. From that report, two facilities planning groups were created- a Bond Planning Task Force and a Long Range Facility Planning group.

Click image to access the full report.

Community Solutions Committee

Following two unsuccessful bond measures in 2024, the Lynden School District established the Community Solutions Committee (CSC) to provide a fresh perspective on facility needs and funding priorities. The CSC’s official charter included:

  • Validating facility needs
  • Identifying barriers to community consensus
  • Recommending a prioritized scope for capital improvements
  • Supporting transparency and fiscal responsibility throughout the process

The committee included local business owners, civic leaders, and residents—many of whom were not involved in prior bond development efforts. Their work was grounded in transparency, open dialogue, and shared responsibility to both students and taxpayers. After months of analysis and discussion, the CSC provided its recommendation to the Lynden School Board on Thursday, June 12. The group’s recommendation supports a bond proposal that is reduced in total cost compared to the original plans brought to voters in 2024.

The CSC recommends limiting the scope of the bond to include only the replacement of Lynden High School, citing it as the great need and the project most significantly impacted by cost escalations if delayed. An audio recording of the group’s presentation and subsequent discussion with the school board can be listened to here. (2:27:00)

Click image to access full report.
Click image to access full report.

Three children gathered around a clipboard while one draws
Marching band walking down a rainy street holding a 'Lynden' banner
Two friends looking at the camera and smiling