The Department of Defense announced two significant grants awarded to Oak Harbor Public Schools by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation. These funds will support major renovations and replacements at schools located on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
The Hand in Hand Learning Center will benefit from a $66.3 million federal grant as part of a broader $80.4 million project aimed at addressing critical capacity and facility deficiencies. Similarly, Crescent Harbor Elementary School has received a $70.6 million federal award as part of an $84.3 million project to replace the school.
Both schools were identified on the 2019 Deputy Secretary of Defense’s “Public Schools on Military Installations Priority List” due to significant facility issues, ranking 49th and 41st, respectively. The renovations will support 514 students from Pre-K through 8th grade at Hand in Hand and 500 students from kindergarten through 4th grade at Crescent Harbor.
These grants are part of the Department’s Public Schools on Military Installations Program, which prioritizes schools facing the most severe challenges in capacity and condition. A Federal Evaluation Team, including representatives from various military branches, reviewed and approved the projects to ensure they effectively address the identified issues.
The upgrades aim to improve educational quality for defense-connected students, support military recruitment and retention, and strengthen ties between the military installation and the local community.–News Desk