Bernice Vossbeck Elementary School- Expansion & Longevity
$7.5 million
This project upgrades and expands Bernice Vossbeck Elementary to ensure the facility can serve students well into the future. Work includes construction of permanent classroom space for approximately 120 additional students, roof replacement, parking expansion, and targeted classroom and building system upgrades. These improvements allow the district to continue using the existing school efficiently and reduce the need for more costly new school construction to serve the extensive growth experienced in the east part of Lynden.
Isom Elementary School-
Expansion & Longevity
$6.8 million
This project upgrades and expands Isom Elementary to extend the life of the facility for decades to come. Improvements include approximately 120 additional permanent student spaces and modernization of critical building systems such as heating and ventilation. The expansion increases overall capacity for all grade levels and better aligns learning spaces in a school originally designed for grades 3–5. Addressing capacity and aging infrastructure now helps reduce reliance on portable classrooms and allows the school to remain viable well beyond 2060.
Lynden Academy-
Facility Acquisition & Renovation
$5.5 million
The levy includes funding to purchase and renovate a permanent facility for Lynden Academy, the district’s parent partnership program serving more than 430 students and continuing to grow. The program is currently housed in a leased former church, with lease and utility costs nearing $20,000 per month and scheduled to increase. The building was not originally designed for daily instructional use. Establishing a district-owned facility allows the district to convert ongoing lease costs into a long-term public asset and improve learning conditions for students and families.
Facilities, Safety & Maintenance Improvements-
~$4.5 million
This portion of the levy addresses essential safety, maintenance, and support needs across district facilities. Projects include security camera and access control upgrades, perimeter fencing, emergency communication systems, transportation garage improvements, targeted upgrades at Lynden High School, and renovations to Judson Hall and the gyms on Main Street to continue school and community use. These are capital investments focused on safety, accessibility, and preserving existing facilities.
Instructional Technology Replacement-
$1.6 million over four years
The levy also supports a planned replacement cycle for student laptops and classroom instructional technology. Spreading these costs over multiple years helps avoid large one-time expenditures and ensures technology remains reliable, secure, and available for daily instruction.
Project Descriptions and Estimated Costs
| School Safety- Perimeter Fencing & Gates Expansion of surveillance/camera coverage across all district facilities Access Controls Emergency Communications Expand lockdown capabilities | $1,265,000 |
| Lynden Academy- Acquire, Modernize and Expand Learning Spaces Replace lease; long-term facility investment | $5,500,000 |
| Judson Hall & Gym Improvements at Main Street Campus- Function upgrades at MSC Restroom Modernization Heating & Ventilation Other updates for maintaining public use | $1,500,000 |
| Transportation Garage Updates- replace bus lift Complete other updates including expansions to accommodate longer & more buses | $800,000 |
| Instructional Technology Replacement- $400,000 per year to cycle through laptop replacement schedule and classroom CleverTouch devices | $1,600,000 |
| Bernice Vossbeck Elementary- Expansion of classrooms to replace portables, parking expansion, roof replacement | $7,500,000 |
| Isom Elementary School- Expansion of classrooms to replace portables; update heating and ventilation system and boilers. | $6,800,000 |
| Lynden High School- Expand cafeteria capacity; upgrade restrooms | $450,000 |
| LHS Future project planning- Architecture and community planning services | $85,000 |
| Total Bond Amount | $25,500,000 |
Historical Overview
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 here to access the Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan.
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 here to access the Long Range Capital Facilities 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 here to access the Bond Planning Task Force 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 here to access the Facilities Planning Committee 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 here to access the Community Solutions Committee Consensus Report.
Click here to access the Community Solutions Committee Summary Report.
- April 21, 2025- Meeting Notes
- April 7, 2025- Meeting Notes
- March 24, 2025- Meeting Notes
- March 10, 2025- Meeting Notes
- February 24, 2025- Meeting Notes