WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES: Sound Off: Community support key to school bond measure

Michelle Kuss-Cybula, superintendent of the Oak Harbor School District, wrote a Sound Off column for the Whidbey News-Times about the district’s February 2023 bond measure. Kuss-Cybula’s column appeared in the paper’s Nov. 19, 2022 edition.

They Said It

On Feb.14, 2023, Oak Harbor voters will consider approving a $121 million school bond measure for Oak Harbor Public Schools that would replace three aging school buildings, enhance safety and security, and address critical needs of the community.

If the bond is approved by voters, the tax rate is expected to be approximately $1.24 per $1,000 assessed property value, which would be 30 cents less than what taxpayers are currently paying for the previous bond measure that expires in December.

After receiving feedback from our community, the Oak Harbor School Board of Directors narrowed the scope of this bond measure to focus on our highest areas of need and capitalize on matching funds by the Department of Defense and the state of Washington.