News & Information

To plan for future growth in north Bellingham, the School Board authorized the Bellingham School District's purchase of 14 acres for a future school site in the King Mountain area at the May 27 meeting, contingent upon results of an in-depth feasibility analysis.

The site, owned by King Mountain Church, is north of Kellogg Road and east of Guide Meridian. After more than five years of discussions, the district will be able to purchase the property for nearly $400,000 less than its appraised value.

"We have been studying this area as part of our long-range planning for a number of years," says Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Ron Cowan. "The north end of Bellingham is where our community is growing. We will be ready to meet our short-term needs with the Aldrich school site and with the planned housing developments in the King Mountain area, we will be positioned to meet long-term needs as well."

The funds from the 2006 bond that will be used to purchase property in Sudden Valley for a future elementary school are being held for this purpose and are not connected to this King Mountain purchase. The Sudden Valley property purchase is currently on hold, pending development regulations in the Lake Whatcom Watershed area.

The King Mountain property will be purchased using reserves from the capital projects fund. Capital projects funds can only be used for property purchase, school construction and renovations, and cannot be used to balance the general fund.