An open letter to the school board

Community members who have signed this letter ask the North Kitsap School District School Board to allocate funds to meet the below listed, prioritized needs of Kingston High School. Funds would be provided by the $1.2 million remaining from the $60 million capital bond passed to fund building of KHS and other district upgrades.

KHS is a focal point of our community and in demand from school and community groups as a venue for many activities. Of the 872 KHS students: 182 (21 percent) participated in fall sports; 89 (10 percent) in winter sports; 216 (25 percent) in spring sports; 15 as team managers; and 60 in the KHS Marching Band.

Proposed projects

• Tennis Courts: The 18 tennis team members practice at the two Kingston Community Courts a mile from KHS.?Our tennis matches are held at North Kitsap High School’s six tennis courts. On these occasions the NKHS’s tennis team must then practice at Lions Park. KHS cannot currently offer tennis as a PE sport. Estimated cost: $110,000 - $200,000.

• Lighting: JV and C team football games played at KHS must start at 3:30 pm and boys and girls soccer games are played concurrently at 3:30 pm (at KHS and Kingston Middle School) or at NKSD to maximize daylight. Many working parents can’t watch their children compete. Lights will maximize the investment in the synthetic turf track and field through extended hours of use allowing better practice schedules, more home games and additional spectators. Estimated cost: $150,000 - $220,000

With field lighting, NK Soccer Club serving 1,300 NK boys and girls, lacrosse teams, NK PeeWees, adult soccer clubs and community members engaged in walking and jogging will be able to use the KHS track and field for many additional hours each year.

The recently signed Public Facilities District agreement provides for Poulsbo to have two lighted synthetic turf fields (NKHS Stadium and Strawberry Field). While benefiting the entire North Kitsap community of soccer/football and track users, it limits KHS’s access to the NKHS Stadium. What is currently a difficult situation could devolve into a scheduling nightmare. NKSD does not provide transportation for KHS tennis or soccer players when their competitions are held at NKHS.

• Covered bleachers, restrooms and concession stand: Spectators will more likely attend events with such amenities. Current amenities at the KHS field are “porta-potties” and one set of uncovered bleachers. Estimated cost: $90,000 – $400,000

The Kingston community has already raised money for KHS field lighting through the Kingston Rotary Club’s Friday Night Lights Golf Tournament and Auction ($10,000) and the ongoing “Got 2C2 Play” campaign ($3,000+).

With many thanks to the NKSD School Board, the NKSD (CFAC), Superintendent Medina, Capital Projects Director Robin Shoemaker, KHS Principal Christy Cole, and the entire team for their work on the $60 million Capital Bond project … Let’s finish it up!

Ginny Bell, KHS Parent

Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Kingston Rotary Club

KHS Band Booster Club (16 members have raised over $9,000)

KHS Athletics Booster Club (120 members have raised more than $40,000, including $20,000 for a KHS scoreboard).

KHS Fine Arts Boosters

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