Want a way to figure out if Oak Harbor school officials are justified in running a $54 million bond?

Then take a tour of the high school to see the facility’s condition first-hand.

Tours are available numerous times in the upcoming weeks leading to the election in May.

“We want people to have the opportunity to come see for themselves,” said Dwight Lundstrom, principal at Oak Harbor High School. He said that while the building’s exterior may look OK to some people, they won’t understand the need for the bond until they tour the inside.

The $54 million bond will pay for a modernization of the high school. Preliminary plans call for combining C and D wings into one building, widening narrow hallways, increasing the size of smaller classrooms, improving career/tech facilities and improving infrastructure. The project is estimated to cost $74 million with $20 million in state matching funds.

The bond election takes place May 16 and needs to pass by a 60 percent majority.

Some tours are offered during school hours, which allows people to get a look at the students using the high school, while others will take place after school and in the evenings.

Everybody is invited to take a tour, Lundstrom said.

Lundstrom said letters are being sent out to parents who have children attending elementary schools. He wants them to see the high school because their children will eventually attend an updated high school.

“They’re the ones who are going to walk into a completely modernized high school,” Lundstrom said.

He said the high school’s Navy junior ROTC unit will lead the evening tours.

Lundstrom said people can either call before hand or show up during advertised times to tour the high school. If none of the 22 available times works out, an interested resident could call the high school and schedule a separate tour, Lundstrom said.

Another time to tour the high school takes place tonight when when Citizens for Better Schools, a volunteer community group, kicks off its promotional campaign for the bond.

The event takes place in Oak Harbor High School’s Parker Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s kind of a pep rally for volunteers who are working on it,” said Rick Almberg, chair for Citizens for Better Schools.

Promotional signs will be available for volunteers to pick up. People can also sign up to be pledge captains. The Oak Harbor Noon Rotary will serve hot dogs and potato salad during the hour-and-a-half long event.

Almberg said a wide variety of groups are supporting the bond effort. He said the support is the same that made last year’s stadium bond and levy elections a success.

“We have a broad cross section of support,” Almberg said. “We want to keep that momentum going.”

Upcoming tours

March 16 — 11 a.m.

March 17 — 6:30 p.m.

March 20 — 3 p.m.

March 21 — 6:30 p.m.

March 23 — 11 a.m.

March 24 — 6:30 p.m.

March 27 — 3 p.m.

March 30 — conferences

April 10 — 3 p.m.

April 11 — 6:30 p.m.

April 13 — 11 a.m.

April 17 — 3 p.m.

April 18 — 6:30 p.m.

April 20 — 11 a.m.

April 24 — 3 p.m.

April 25 — 6:30 p.m.

April 27 — 11 a.m.

May 1 — 3 p.m.

May 4 — 11 a.m.

May 8 — 3 p.m.

May 11 — 11 a.m.

May 15 — 3 p.m.

Tours for the 6:30 p.m. meetings begin in the library and all others start in the Main Office. For information call OHHS at 279-5400.