Distrust and ill feelings are running rampant between North Kitsap School District officials and members of the Spectrum Alternative School community, the latter group is claiming that it has been shunned, ignored and is now being forced to shove its square peg through a round hole at Kingston High School.

It’s an odd situation in that both the NKSD and Spectrum pride themselves on acceptance, tolerance and compromise, all of which seems to be slightly out of reach as they attempt to find a plausible solution that benefits everyone.

While district officials, teachers and parents have been vocal on the issue, it’s the kids, the students who must be the ones to speak up. This is starting to occur, but seeing that they will be the ones most impacted by the 2007 opening of KHS, it should have been taking place since Day One of the controversy.

If the students don’t really care one way or the other whether the Ravens find shelter under the KHS umbrella, then why should everyone else be up in arms?

As it stands, Spectrum has an identity — i.e. something to lose — and as of yet, KHS is an unknown — i.e. nothing to lose per se. In fact the Ravens are already losing something as Spectrum’s founder and principal is most likely departing after the 2006-07 school year, taking with him an unparalleled expertise and knowledge. Yet he will leave behind a recipe for success.

The ingredients to start the process are available but in order to use them, both “sides” of the argument need to put their boiling pots on simmer, step away from the stove and focus on one thing and one thing only — what’s best for the students.

Everything else is secondary.