Ferndale School District officials hope tours of two elementary schools will help win over another 4 percent of voters to a school bond measure.

District voters defeated a $21 million bond in March that would have paid for improvements at North Bellingham Elementary School and to replace Custer Elementary School. Fifty-six percent of voters voted in favor of the bond, but a 60 percent “yes” vote is required for school bonds.

District officials say the money is needed, and they are asking voters to reconsider in a special May election.

The tours will be available the next two Saturdays to show citizens around the two schools.

>> Community tours at North Bellingham and Custer elementary schools 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and on April 26. North Bellingham Elementary is at 5275 Northwest Road. Custer Elementary is at 7660 Custer School Road.

NOISE ORDINANCE MEETING MIGHT GET LOUD

Citizens who complain about noise in downtown Bellingham and the businesses that rely on music and nightlife will get a chance to air their grievances and seek solutions at a meeting Sunday.

Currently, city rules allow police discretion when a noise complaint is filed. Many businesses hear complaints regularly and police are often forced to come out and determine whether the noise levels violate community standards.

Venue owners and musicians are offering proposed changes to the laws, including setting decibel level limits before police can issue citations.

Our editorial board believes downtown residents ought to know that a vibrant nightlife is a key ingredient to an active and successful downtown.

But we are glad to see the business owners who face constant noise complaints reaching out to address neighbors’ concerns. We urge those who deal with this issue regularly to attend this meeting to try to work out a fair compromise.

>> Public meeting about noise and music in downtown Bellingham 3 p.m. Sunday at Fantasia Espresso & Tea, 1324 Cornwall Ave.

LYNDEN COMMUNICATION STUDY DUE TONIGHT

Last year, Lynden School District parents and staff complained loudly when the district forced two school administrators to switch jobs without notifying the public.

Tonight, a consultant will tell the school board and administrators how they can better communicate with parents and teachers in the future.

The meeting is expected to be heavily attended by parents who were upset by the administrative moves last year and are rightfully demanding to know more about who will be running their schools.

>> Lynden School Board 7 p.m. tonight in the cafeteria at Lynden High School, 1201 Bradley Road.

WWU TO UNVEIL POSSIBLE WATERFRONT FUNDING PLAN

Western Washington University officials will unveil a potential plan for funding the school’s part in waterfront redevelopment at a work session with Port of Bellingham commissioners Tuesday.

According to a port press statement, Western representatives are working with the port to create a development authority to acquire property and develop facilities.

Western is hoping to move Huxley College of the Environment to the waterfront, among other things.

The so-called “Viking Development Entity” would allow Western to partner with private financial institutions or developers to develop university facilities at the waterfront. The university would also seek funding for waterfront expansion through its traditional capital request process with the state.

We are excited to hear more about this concept as we believe the location of some Western facilities on the waterfront will be a boon to both the university and to the community goal of reclaiming the industrial waterfront for new uses.

>> Port of Bellingham commissioners work session, 2 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room of the Harbor Center, 1801 Roeder Ave.