Bellingham Students Walk Out Over School Closures
Hundreds of students protested planned closures of Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools and the performance of Superintendent Greg Baker.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Hundreds of Bellingham students staged a walkout at noon on Monday, gathering outside the district office along Barkley Boulevard before a scheduled school board meeting. The protest targeted looming closures of Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools and the job performance of Superintendent Greg Baker.
Why it matters
School officials announced in late September that both elementary schools are slated to close at the end of this academic year, and a final decision is not expected until later this month. The Bellingham Neighborhood Schools Coalition has resisted the district's push to close both schools, arguing the process lacked open dialogue and financial analysis.
Hundreds of students joined the Monday noon walkout, which the extraction does not quantify further. Both closures remain pending a decision expected later in November 2026, with no final vote count reported.
The players
Greg Baker
Superintendent of the Bellingham school district, whose job performance was a target of the student walkout.
Bellingham Neighborhood Schools Coalition
A local advocacy group that has resisted the district's plan to close both elementary schools and questioned the transparency of the decision process.
The details
Students walked out at noon Monday to protest the planned closures and Superintendent Greg Baker's performance. Current Carl Cozier students will attend Sunnyland and Wade King elementary schools, while Columbia students will move to Alderwood Elementary School starting in August 2027.
Timeline
Late September: School officials announced the closure plans for Carl Cozier and Columbia elementary schools.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Students walked out at noon.
Later in November 2026: A final decision on the closures is expected.
End of the 2025-26 academic year: Carl Cozier and Columbia are scheduled to close.
August 2027: Columbia students begin attending Alderwood Elementary School.
Season Trajectory
The planned closures reflect a district-wide push to consolidate neighborhood elementary schools, which the Bellingham Neighborhood Schools Coalition has actively resisted. The walkout signals that opposition has moved from advocacy into direct student action ahead of the board's final decision.
Carl Cozier families will be assigned to Sunnyland or Wade King elementary, and Columbia families will move to Alderwood Elementary starting August 2027. Parents should watch for the board's final vote later this month to confirm these new boundaries.
The takeaway
Families affected by school closures should review the new attendance boundary maps published online and track the board's final decision this month. Staying informed before the vote gives parents time to weigh in with the district.
What happens next
A final decision on the Carl Cozier and Columbia closures is expected later in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on the local debate, explore Secondary Education coverage in Bellingham.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bellingham Herald.
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