Editor,

Thank you for your regular coverage of Oak Harbor schools. My favorite articles are those with pictures of my son in his Wildcat tennis uniform; please keep those coming.

A recent article described a write-in campaign for school board. The candidate seems nice enough, but I can’t know for sure. I have not met him despite going to most board meetings for the last year and a half. He has not been attending.

I’m running for Oak Harbor School director because I’m passionate about kids, and about their education. I’ve been an Oak Harbor resident since moving here to fly EA-6Bs long ago. My daughter was born in the Navy hospital during my first deployment. I joke that she was born “at the airfield,” which I think is funny but mostly makes her roll her eyes.

My son was also born nearby; my wife and I have raised and educated these kids here, using both school district and local resources.

In between five deployments I’ve been quite active in the community, serving on the building committee for the Fort Nugent playground in 2004, and later co-chairing the campaign for a new downtown library. I’m a long-time assistant scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop.

In preparation to serve, I’ve sat down with each of the school principals and many of the directors, in order to learn the issues. Overall I’m quite impressed with our school professionals, top to bottom.

One improvement I’d like to discuss, however, regards our school start times. The latest research strongly indicates that our secondary schools should not start before 8:30 a.m. Accommodating this would be a cheap way to dramatically improve teen learning and health. We would probably have to swap the times, with elementary schools starting earlier than secondary, but doing so would preclude having to buy a ton of new buses.

Districts throughout the country are doing exactly this, including Seattle’s board, which will vote on this issue next week. After the election I hope to start a parent-educator work group to consider the details involved, and if agreeable, present a new schedule for board approval in time for fall, 2016.

If you are also passionate about our schools, I’d be interested in hearing from you. Please contact me at electbob@hotmail.com. It’d be an honor to have your vote.

Robert J. Hallahan,

School board candidate