Greed? Fraud? Unsavory organizations? Some readers may remember an earlier iteration of this issue. Please see the link below to access previous aricles.
A shadowy local non-profit, Taecan, functioning as a private land holding company, has decided to cash in, throwing the future of a 40 year old community service into serious jeopardy. There is scant evidence that Taecan actually provides any significant service. Internet queries return little information. Really digging will produce personal information on Scott Stodola, ostensibly retired. Inquiries at facilities Taecan supposedly utilizes produced no one familiar with their work. Requests to inspect their books were refused. Perhaps there is someone out there enthusiastic and qualified enough to help the school or somehow throw a wrench in these nonsensical works. I hope so, because we should not even be discussing sustainability if we cannot maintain a valuable service like the Bellingham Cooperative School, and non-profits can succeed by speculating in real estate and running roughshod over legitimate services.
Ironically, local developer Heather Othmer has reportedly had the property under contract and been working with the school to plan a "Bellingham Cooperative School Co-Housing Project" to secure the school's location dovetailed with some sensitive development. What the owners' order for the school to vacate means for that plan are unclear at this time.
Here is a press release from the Bellingham Cooperative School which has served students with special needs for forty years, twenty five at the location they have been asked to vacate.
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Press Release:
Bellingham Cooperative School
2710 McKenzie Ave.
Bellingham, WA 98225
Contact: Heidi Alford, Director
bellinghamcooperativeschool@comcast.net
The Bellingham Coop School (BCS) regretfully announces it will discontinue all programs and classes effective July 30, 2010. BCS is a small school, serving pre-school, home school, elementary, and middle school students. Founded 40 years ago, BCS is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization located in south Bellingham.
There were many factors that played into this tough decision, but economics were key. Economic conditions of the past two years have taken their toll, and the school has struggled financially for some time, especially in the past year.
Additionally, the landowner recently gave the school notice to vacate the property within a few weeks, leaving little time for the school to find a new location and move.
In a letter to its staff, the board said, “We hope to use this break to establish the school on a firm economic basis. In the interim, we may offer preschool and an after-school program, but those plans have yet to be developed.”
Director Heidi Alford said, “I have enjoyed working with delightful children, a tremendously creative staff and wonderfully supportive parents for the past 25 years. There has never been a day when I didn’t want to be at our sunny little school. I look forward to the possibility of finding a new place in the community to continue serving the needs of children and families.”
For the past 40 years, BCS has provided strong educational programs, both full and part-time, for children ages 3 through 14. It offered small classes, individualized instruction, and a multi-faceted approach to educating the whole person.
BCS will have a sale of educational materials, supplies, toys and books from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 24th and Sunday, July 25th. The sale will be held at BCS, located at 2710 McKenzie Avenue, off 24th Street in south Bellingham.
