KINGSTON —  Dan Price believes that moving the North Kitsap Boys & Girls Club into the second floor of the historical Kola Kole Schoolhouse is an appropriate decision.

The building started out as one of Kingston’s first educational facilities, where many of the area’s elders attended grade school and is currently home to the Kingston Co-op Preschool. The second floor is currently unused due to its dilapidated state, but Price, NKB&G Club co-chair, wants to change that.

The club has drawn plans and presented them to Kitsap County, which owns the building, about becoming a potential lessee. The next step is to get public opinion.

County officials will be taking comments at the next Kingston Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, which is at 7 p.m. July 6 at the Kingston Community Center. Following that session, Price aims to sign a lease with the county and start raising $70,000 to renovate the upstairs. He hopes to find contractors who are willing to donate labor.

“It’s not just a community project, it’s saving the building, too,” he said.

Plans for the upstairs include putting in new windows, installing a kitchenette for cooking classes, renovating the two classrooms, bringing it up fire code standards and installing a handicapped entrance on the back of the building. The goal is to have it ready for use by next summer.

When it’s not in use by the club, Price said the facility will be available to the public for meetings that need to occur in the morning.

“A home of our own is a big advantage for us,” Price said. “It makes it so we can serve all school-age kids.”

The club currently only operates during the school year at Kingston Junior High and its 70 registered members are students from KJH. While the club appreciates the space, it wants to be able to expand and reach out to both high school and elementary students.

NKB&G Club will raise money to renovate the upstairs and utilize it but Price said long term plans for the club include moving on and building its own facility — leaving the county with a building that is ready for the next tenant, without having to do major renovations.

Price said he has always personally had intentions of saving the schoolhouse — whether it be turning it into the new library, another public meeting space or a space for kids to gather.

“It returns the focus of that building to education and children” he said. “It was the original schoolhouse in Kingston. I can’t think of a better use for it.”

Donations can be sent to NKB&G Club, 8202 State Route 104, #102, Kingston, WA 98346 or by calling Price at (360) 434-5842 or new club director Gail Swain at (360) 297-5987.