Solar-powered, flashing beacons in Oak Harbor school zones will be fully functional Monday morning.

Oak Harbor public works crews installed the $82,000 worth of lights this week at 22 spots around the district’s seven elementary and middle schools.

“The purpose is to draw attention to the fact that it’s a school zone,” said Public Works Superintendent Cathy Rosen. “We’re just trying to make them safer and remind people that school is on.”

The lights didn’t cost the city a thing. The city and school district worked together on a successful grant application to the Washington State Safety Commission. The agency completed a study which identified flashing lights as one of the most effective ways to reduce speeds in school zones.

The flashing lights don’t affect the speed limits or the hours of the school zones are in effect, which remain at 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

City officials chose to purchase solar-powered lights from Western Systems, Inc., which should save the city some electricity costs in the long run.