Editor,

Oak Harbor is home to many unique and special things. One of our distinctive attributes that many do not know of is Oak Harbor Christian School. OHCS has been a God-given blessing to many children and families in our community, including mine.

Last week, the school announced to its staff, parents and students that it is closing its doors to second through eighth grades due to low enrollment. While this decision was not made lightly and came as a surprise to many, some were not as shocked.

Enrollment has been on a consistent decline over the last seven years. Without adequate enrollment the school cannot cover overhead nor financially fulfill teachers’ contracts.

For 76 years the Christian school was an asset to this community in providing a safe environment, smaller class sizes and a quality education while creating a strong Biblical foundation for its children and families.

My two sons attended sixth through eighth grades. Both not only received the foundation they needed to succeed in high school, they received a foundation for success in life. They transitioned from middle school into high school honors and advanced classes as freshmen, and they received high school math and science credits from middle school courses.

Oak Harbor Christian School is Oak Harbor’s best kept secret in both its existence and, now, it’s closing. Unfortunately, the community of Oak Harbor was not warned of the school’s sorrowful ending prior to the board’s decision, or things might have turned out differently.

I, among many, think that the community of Oak Harbor needs a feasible alternative to the public and home school systems, and, with only word-of-mouth, the Christian school has not been represented adequately to our community.

Three years ago another one of Oak Harbor’s unique attributes was in distress, and our community rallied to save a dying drive-in theater. If we can save a drive-in, we can certainly save a school that has been of upmost importance to our community for 76 years.

Therefore, I reach out to all parents looking for this type of education for their children, and I encourage you to enroll now. I also reach out to all citizens of our community, and I strongly implore you to support in the unified effort to keep this school alive, either in prayer or in contribution of any shape or form.

Tammy Bright

Oak Harbor