I read your interview with the new North Kitsap School District superintendent and was happy to read that she wants to “establish a personal connection and human touch” (“A chat with NKSD’s new superintendent,” page A1, July 21 North Kitap Herald).

Thank you, and welcome Dr. Evans, and good luck tackling the “tough budget realities.” You may not know that the district has lost out on state money for years. In 2016-17, some 555 district students did not attend district schools. In 2007, 349 student enrolled somewhere else.

The NK Innovation Advisory Committee was given the task to come up with ideas to entice students to come back into the NKSD fold. It appears that Central Kitsap and Bainbridge’s alternative schools attract most of the kids we lose. For 10 years, the district lost some 400 students every year. I do not know how much state money that is, but what took so long to finally tackle the missing-students problem?

The committee proposed some 40 alternative curriculum ideas. The problem, however, with alternative and elective classes is that our present rigid 24-credit curriculum, 150 hours of instruction, does not allow any additional classes.

Between 1994 and 2005, NKHS had a “block” program offering 32 credits; we had many more electives then than we have now. But the block was cancelled in 2005 because students received less than 150 hours of instruction.

If the school board, the curriculum director and the superintendent are serious about attracting more students and, thus, more state money, through new alternative programs, it must change the present bell schedule.

If 150 hours of instruction is state law, the district must lobby to change it. If it is a policy of the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, he must be lobbied to allow for flexible hours.

The present instruction requirements are the obstacle to the committee’s effort to add alternative classes. None of the committee’s best ideas can be implemented under the present rigid 24 credits/150 hours of instruction system.

James Behrend
Bainbridge Island