Editor,

If the school levy doesn’t pass, it will greatly affect Oak Harbor schools. It is very important that children today get the best academic experience possible because they are the future generation.

I am a Seventh-grader at Oak Harbor Middle School and I am 12 years old. Currently there are many things that need to improve. First of all, we have many outdated and/or damaged textbooks. In my World History class, over half of our textbooks are in poor condition. Several are held together by duct tape. If the levy is passed, $600,000 would go to the replacement of outdated/damaged textbooks.

Many of our computers need constant maintenance and all of the computers need updating. Our computers are outdated and it can take as long as 5 to 10 minutes to log in. If the levy does not pass, broken computers would not be repaired.

If the levy doesn’t pass, many educational opportunities would be out the door.

School athletics only serve half of the students who want to participate. Passing of the levy would restore middle school athletics and protect it from cuts.

Oak Harbor schools are deeply impacted from loss of money from the state. Our investment into schools is at risk because basic support is not longer there for needed repairs and routine maintenance. The levy would add $600,000 for major maintenance. I am a trumpet player in the Oak Harbor Middle School band program, and want to be a professional musician when I grow up. If the levy is not passed, music, clubs and other activities would be unprotected. The levy will protect Advanced Placement classes in the high school so students can continue to flourish. The levy will also protect 30 extra minutes every day for elementary math and reading.

Budget cuts have caused the middle schools to lose 30 minutes per day of class time. If the levy is passed, 30 minutes every day for middle school will be restored and so will after school tutoring.Please vote “yes” for the school levy.

Trinity Olvera
Oak Harbor