Public input sought Dec. 3 and 4.

Neighborhoods often go through a metamorphosis as bright sunny days with kids riding their bikes down the street and playing football in front yards are replaced by empty nesters and grandparents enjoying leisurely evening walks and grandkids arriving just in time for the holidays.

School districts like the Central Kitsap School District (CKSD) must continually adapt as they seek to maximize the use of their facilities and staff to provide the same level and quality of education for each student attending classes.

In the course of achieving those goals, school attendance boundaries are subject to change, which is why CKSD is seeking public input in its latest review of the boundaries for all of its secondary schools, with the exception of Klahowya.

The district is sponsoring two public forums next week, the first at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and the second at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 in the gymnasium of the Jenne-Wright Administration Center, 9210 Silverdale Way in Silverdale.

“Public input is always important to us,” CKSD Superintendent Greg Lynch said, adding that even if people are unable to attend the two forums, they can find information about the proposed changes on the district’s Web site at www.cksd.wednet.edu and are encouraged to e-mail or call the district with their comments. “It will have an impact as early as next fall or it could be in future years.”

Because the district lacked the capacity to have ninth- through 12th-graders at both high schools and chose not to close Central Kitsap Junior High School last fall, it became imperative to find ways to balance the existing unbalanced enrollment and inequities in academic offerings, Lynch said.

“It’s not fair to the students and staff at these schools,” he said.

The district formed a secondary boundary committee, which has representatives from across the district including parents and staff, to develop options, he said.

“The public will see at least three options with pros and cons (at the forums),” Lynch said, adding the CKSD Board of Directors will review the public input at its Dec. 10 meeting.

The problem isn’t with building maintenance costs, but rather additional support staff costs, CKSD Vice President of Business and Operations David McVicker said.

“The ability to offer the same programs at all the schools is a significant desire,” McVicker said.

However, until the district sees exactly what the options are and how the numbers play out, it won’t know exactly what the financial impact is, McVicker said.

A final recommendation will be presented to the school board at its Jan. 14, 2009 meeting.

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