Q&A with Superintendent Baker

Q&A with Superintendent Baker

In this Q&A, Superintendent Greg Baker answers common questions we’re hearing – some about the Facilities Planning Task Force and others are related to topics like bond funding, the District Office and budget cuts. Chapter timestamps: (00:00): Introduction (1:59): Enrollment decline (4:12): Past budget saving measures (6:45): History of District Office (11:38): 2022 Bond clarification (16:56): Transparency (19:49): How budget decisions are made (23:49): State funding (26:40): Perspective Below are URLs to web pages with information referenced in the video: * 2026 Facilities Planning Task Force web page: https://www.bellinghamschools.org/get-involved/committees-and-advisory-groups/facilities-planning-task-force-2026 [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/get-involved/committees-and-advisory-groups/facilities-planning-task-force-2026] * FAQs - Facilities Planning Task Force web page: https://www.bellinghamschools.org/get-involved/committees-and-advisory-groups/facilities-planning-task-force-2026/frequently-asked-questions-facilities-planning-task-force-2026 [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/get-involved/committees-and-advisory-groups/facilities-planning-task-force-2026/frequently-asked-questions-facilities-planning-task-force-2026] * 2022 Bond web page: https://www.bellinghamschools.org/about/departments/finance/bond-2022 [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/about/departments/finance/bond-2022] * Budget web page (includes Budget Book link): https://www.bellinghamschools.org/about/departments/finance/budget [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/about/departments/finance/budget] * Cost-saving measures for 2025-26 web page: https://www.bellinghamschools.org/about/departments/finance/budget/cost-saving-measures-for-2025-26 [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/about/departments/finance/budget/cost-saving-measures-for-2025-26]

High School Schedule and Budget

Thanks to those who shared input on possible changes to the high school schedule [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/all-news/p/~board/2025-2026-news/post/budget-challenges-and-studying-the-high-school-schedule]. Our feedback form [https://bellinghampublic.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1MITqVwDGbWdSRg] is still open, and we’d love to hear from you. We recently filmed  a “What’s Up, Doc?” episode all about high school schedule and budget [https://bellinghamps.wistia.com/medias/efuils4nin] and I encourage you to watch or listen as we discuss common questions.   Thank you to Mira, who attends Sehome High School, for her thoughtful interview and questions around this timely topic. We discuss state funding, AP courses and class size, among other things. We appreciate your interest and feedback!

7th Graders Look Back

Many of our students are with us for long stretches of time, sometimes their entire school career, across different schools and interacting with peers and staff. They become part of our family, and it is gratifying to see how they change and grow.   Speaking of growth, in the spring, we checked in with three then-seventh graders who were first featured as kindergarteners back in 2018 [https://bellingham.wistia.com/medias/uw4un5881f] in our periodic video series “What’s up Doc?”  Big thanks to Damien, Maddi and Mason for joining Superintendent Dr. Greg Baker for this episode many years after the first interview.It was fun to hear how things have changed and what they enjoy about school now more than halfway through their time with us.In the episode, you can hear refences to sports, friends, classes and field trips. We are fortunate that our community supports our levies and bonds to help fund these aspects of education, and we don’t take your support for granted. Bellingham Public Schools has two measures on the ballot Nov. 4, and you can read more about them [https://www.bellinghamschools.org/levy-2025] here.

Healthy Tech Night: Expert Panel and Discussion

A conversation about healthy technology use strategies and kids. Hosted by Wade King, Happy Valley and Lowell PTAs. Featuring Bellingham Police Department detectives April Mitchelson and Taylor Allen, internal medicine/pediatric specialist Dr. Stephen Weinberger, certified mental health professional Aaron Williams, psychologist and behavior specialist Dr. Sara White and Bellingham Public Schools director of safety and security Russ Robinson.

Student Discipline

Superintendent Dr. Greg Baker sits down with Squalicum High School Campus Monitor Dionte Thomas, Shuksan Middle School Principal Alli Chryst and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Jay Jordan to discuss student discipline philosophy and practices in Bellingham Public Schools.