Will “close” cut it at the North Kitsap School District’s proposed site for the new Kingston High School? After months of intense study at the site, maybe it should. But it seems like every time NKSD takes one step forward on this one, a few vocal neighbors give it a solid push two steps back.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s non-committal shrug of an answer as to whether the former missile site is safe for a school isn’t helping matters. Waiting for the Department of Health to test residents would smash the delicate time line that has thus far — and amazingly so — avoided crashing to the floor.
Should the district wait? Or should it move ahead with plans to clear the site and attempt to maintain its course for the high school?
That’s a toughie but as long as we’re asking questions here, how about these: Why were residents who live nearby the site apparently displeased that EPA didn’t find anything drastically wrong or unhealthy with it? One would think they’d be quite pleased to learn that contaminants weren’t poisoning them and their kids.
Are they wanting more environmental reviews for themselves, or for the thousands of students who may someday walk the halls at the school? Where were these health concerns when the site was first discussed? Not after it was determined to have previously housed Nike missiles, but when it came up as an option? It stands to reason that ailing residents would have raised the issue immediately, pointing out that the area was unhealthy for them and would likely also be unhealthy for students and teachers.
Speaking of those folks, why haven’t any Spectrum students and teachers reported chemical-related illnesses purportedly associated with the site. Spectrum’s principal Chris Wendelyn has been working there for two decades. One would think that if anyone would be sick, it would be him.
Another key question pertains to comments that, hey, maybe Hercules were stored at this site. Where were these issues earlier? Illness, nukes and the like seem to pop up at the most inconvenient times possible for the school district. The timing is everything.
We’re beginning to wonder if “concerned citizens” are putting up roadblocks for the sake of health or to force the school elsewhere. Perhaps somewhere that has more room for sports fields.
It’s vital to point out that opposition to the Kingston High School site was virtually non-existent until it was learned that the proposed location would not afford students as many recreational fields as North Kitsap High School.
Is this still the driving force behind the movement against the site? Only opponents can say for sure. We’ve listened to both sides on this one. Read countless e-mails, attended night meetings, day meetings, public hearings and everything in between since the high school idea for Kingston was first raised.
We’re still not sure what’s really driving the opposition on this one and, after all is said and done, are sincerely wondering whose best interests they have in mind.
On the other hand, the district has done everything it’s been asked to do. The EPA wouldn’t just walk away from a site that had major chemical issues. Officials’ in depth studies didn’t find any. It wasn’t up to the EPA to determine whether or not the site was fit to house a school — it never was. EPA officials did what they were told: look for chemicals, report the findings. They did their job. Now the NKSD board members should be allowed to do theirs and move ahead.
