Federal & State Supported School Construction Projects
We're Celebrating Two New Grant-Funded Schools for Oak Harbor!
The Oak Harbor Public Schools applied and were approved to receive two grants through the Washington State Department of Defense Community Compatibility Grant and the Department of Defense to rebuild Crescent Harbor Elementary and HomeConnection/Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center.
Due to their locations on military installations, conditions and capacity limitations, these two schools were eligible to receive 80 percent of the funding from the Department of Defense to replace these two schools. The remaining 20 percent needed to be supported through local funding, such a school bond measure. After failing to secure the supermajority needed in the State of Washington to approve a school bond measure for the remaining 20 percent of the funding, district leadership submitted a state grant in an attempt to not lose out on approximately $100 million in federal funding to replace the two schools.
Through the strong advocacy and support of Senator Ron Muzzall, Legislative Representatives Dave Paul and Clyde Shavers, Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck and district leadership, Oak Harbor Public Schools was able to access more than $130 million in funding to support local students at no cost to local taxpayers.
The state funding comes from a grant submitted by Oak Harbor Public Schools through the State of Washington for the Defense Community Compatibility Account (DCCA). With the two schools on military installations and the available matching dollars from the Department of Defense, the schools were eligible for the grant funding, which totaled close to $30 million. Crescent Harbor Elementary and Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center/HomeConnection are the only two schools in Oak Harbor eligible for these unique grants because of their location on military installations.
Bayley Construction will be working on the Hand-in-Hand/HomeConnection school and Tiger Construction will be working on Crescent Harbor Elementary. If you have additional questions about construction, please contact Heidi Hansen.
Virtual Walk-Through
An early imagining of the new school for Hand-in-Hand Early Learning and HomeConnection
Location: Off Regatta next to Olympic View Elementary School
An early imagining of new school for Crescent Harbor Elementary
Location: Current CHE location but the school will be built on the back of the property.
Renderings of Crescent Harbor Elementary



Current Progress
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Crescent Harbor Elementary - June 2025
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Crescent Harbor Elementary - June 2025
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Crescent Harbor Elementary - June 2025
Renderings of Forest Vista Learning Center



Current Progress
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Forest Vista Learning Center - June 2025
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Forest Vista Learning Center - June 2025
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Forest Vista Learning Center - June 2025
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Activity Date Final OLDCC Grant Application & Award December 2023/January 2024 Site Testing/Drilling December 2023/January 2024 Finalize Design & Construction Docs March 2024 Project Bidding & Award April-June 2024 Logging at HIH Site April 2024 CHE Construction (18.5 months) Summer 2024 – Summer/Fall 2027 CHE Estimated Move-In Summer/Fall 2026 HIH Construction (21.5 months) Summer 2024 – Summer/Fall 2026 HIH Estimated Move-In Fall 2026 **Last updated on May 13, 2024**
* It is important to note that construction planning and execution include many factors that may alter this schedule and all dates are subject to change. If and when that happens, we will update this schedule to the best of our ability.
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- OCTOBER 30, 2023, 6 p.m.: Construction Service Group (CSG), part of Educational Service District (ESD) 112, presented an update at the school board meeting.
- JANUARY 24, 2024, 4:30 p.m.: Update during the State of the Schools event at Oak Harbor High School. Architects were also available during the showcase with information and to answer questions from the public.
- JANUARY 29, 2024, 6 p.m. NAC Architects presentation at the school board meeting
- MARCH 11, 2024: Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula’s update at the school board meeting
- April 23, 2024: Principal Bill Weinsheimer and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula presented at a community information night at Crescent Harbor Elementary School
- Download the slides (PDF)
- May 13, 2024: Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula’s update at the school board meeting.
- August 27, 2024: Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula’s shares message with the community.
- October 2, 2024, 4:30 p.m.: Construction Parent Info Meeting at Hand-in-Hand/HomeConnection/OHVA
- June, 2025 Community Update
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May 2025: News Release: Name of New School Building Announced for Hand-in-Hand/HomeConnection/OHVA Schools
April 2025: KOMO 4 News: Oak Harbor Schools secured funding for new schools through collaboration and innovation
September 2024: KING 5 News: Department of Defense to fund new schools in Oak HarborAugust 2024: WNT: School contruction projects receive DOD grants