The North Kitsap School District is looking for opinions and we know our readers have them. In this case, the district is looking for a little financial advice. Namely, it’d like guidance on how it, as a tax-payer supported entity, should spends its cash. Luckily enough, that’s what you have opinions about.

In two separate but equal public forums next week, the district is asking — nay, begging — for people to show up with ideas on how to spend $1.2 million in currently unallocated funds from the 2001 voter-approved bonds and state matching funds.

Both forums will be at 6:30 p.m., with the first at Kingston High on April 15 and the second at North Kitsap High on April 16.

The unallocated funds come from a mixture of factors — favorable interest rates, careful spending and lower-than-expected bids.

The district spread out the $60.1 million bond — with state matching funds and other funding — to make improvements on nearly all the schools.

In addition to its landmark project of the construction of Kingston High, the bond also modernized Poulsbo, Suquamish and Pearson Elementary schools, North Kitsap High and Poulsbo Middle. The schools’ upgrades included earthquake and fire upgrades, new heating, plumbing and ventilation systems, new technology and aesthetic improvements.

Now the dilemma begins … who and what gets first dibs on the remainder of the cash?

There are plenty of worthy projects that deserve the money, including — in no particular order — stadium lights and/or tennis courts at Kingston High or a new roof for the little kiddies at Briedablik Elementary.

These forums are an opportunity for anyone with an idea of how the district should best spend the money — which must be allocated to a capital project — to show up and speak their mind.

We encourage this, as what it will essentially come down to is the squeakiest wheel, or the squeakiest wheel with the most advocates will get the funding.

If you have a cause in mind, the best way to get your piece of the pie is to show up. Speak your mind. Bring a bullhorn if you have to. Just be heard.

The comments at the open forums will make their way back to the school board, which will have the final decision-making authority.

No matter what project you’re advocating, this is your chance.

Use it.

If you don’t show up and your project goes unfunded, you have no one to blame but yourself.