Oak Harbor schools have done an excellent job of making due with less for decades. When our community voted to approve a modest, sensible levy four years ago, Oak Harbor was able to offer our children services that other comparably sized school districts often take for granted.

For many years, ours was the only large district in Washington state that did not offer a school lunch program, a dubious distinction at best. Now our kids have hot lunches, our high school has increased the number of advanced placement classes, the elementary schools teach for 30 extra minutes and there are gym and art classes. More teachers mean smaller class size, and added instructional assistants mean more personalized attention for children with special needs.

Talk to teachers, parents and, most importantly, to our children to see the difference the levy has made. If the levy is not renewed on March 8, all we have gained these last four years will be put in jeopardy. Please vote “yes” to continue the levy and start a tradition of community support for our schools.

Beth Kelley

Oak Harbor