Superintendent Patty Page issued this statement about the North Kitsap School Board’s decision Thursday to close Breidablik Elementary School:
The North Kitsap School District Board of Directors voted unanimously Thursday evening to close Breidablik Elementary School. This decision was reached after studying school closure for 12 months. Notice of the board decision is posted on the district’s website, www.nkschools.org.
The decision by the School Board is one of the most complex, difficult and emotional decisions ever made in the history of NKSD. The children, staff, parents and community members in the Breidablik neighborhood will be the most affected by the board’s decision but the impact will be felt across the entire school district. The North Kitsap School District team, collaborating with our families and community members, will develop and execute a plan to make this profound change as smooth as possible. As plans for the transition are finalized, we will communicate that to all of our families and staff.
The next step in the process will be to realign boundaries at each of our schools. A committee has formed consisting of parents and staff that will be looking at boundary adjustments for all schools K-12. Details will be posted to the district website and publicized as soon as they are available. Our goal is to have boundary realignment completed by March 23, 2013.
Change can be difficult, especially for children. Children take their cues from the adults in their lives. Keeping a positive attitude and encouraging them to embrace the new opportunities that a different school environment brings will be important. On our website, a few links can assist in helping parents talk to their children about change.
We understand that this is a very difficult time, and all families are affected by the final decision. Closing a school supports our goal to provide increased funding to basic education and special programs that will support student learning for all of the children in North Kitsap.
Sincerely,
Patty Page
Superintendent, North Kitsap School District
