We are appalled to hear that the school district proposes to eliminate and/or drastically reduce library and counseling positions in the North Kitsap School District. Cutting these positions would put our children’s welfare and education at risk, undermining the academic and social structures of school life.

Who will help students, and by extension teachers and parents, through the daily disruptions of behavior and health problems when the counselors are gone? Who will instruct children about dealing with bullies and guide young ones through school and family crises if there are no counselors? Counselors provide an umbrella of services that address the needs of the whole child on an individual basis, a vital necessity for well-rounded and healthy students.

Who will foster the love of reading and research so essential to learning and productive citizenship if there is no librarian? Who will collaborate with teachers to infuse technology into their lessons and provide materials that support curriculum and integrate content areas for every grade? Librarians are instructional leaders in their buildings; they are teachers to all students in all grades. Librarians are crucial to each student’s individual achievement and to each school as a whole because they are at the hub of learning.

We urge the school board and the North Kitsap School District Administration to give this issue extensive consideration and find other, less critical services to cut from the budget. The future of our community is at stake.

Mary and Michael Kulish

Kingston