An open letter to North Kitsap School District Superintendent Richard Jones and other Kitsap County superintendents:

During these hard economic times, everyone is strapped for funds. In an effort that we may both must honor our responsibilities to educate our county’s’ children, and instead of us property owners always carrying the lion’s share, I recommend the following previously adopted by the Ellensburg School District:

If your child is playing in the local youth basketball league this winter, it cost $70 to participate; and $70 or $100 to participate in baseball or softball this spring. For complete plan and/or article, please go to www.dailyrecordnews.com.

Additionally, I strongly feel that it is time we start charging renters, especially those who have children in our county’s schools, a 3 percent annual fee based on their annual net income. These fees should have a 7 percent cap and a tax write-off.

Additionally, our county’s’ schools should require parental involvement [not just PTA and/or Back to School night] in the form of a legally authorize School Site Parent Advisory Committee. And a must: incorporate a successful charter schools system!

Also, require that all students take a career orientation course for six years, studying five different careers per semester; then they will appreciate the need to be proficient in all their academics and will relate better to the world of work.

Frederick Douglass once said, “A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people.”

Willis Papillion, MSW
Silverdale