Mentioned in a story this week about a ceremony honoring the strides made by Native American students in the Central Kitsap School District is a curious line:

“While more than a dozen students were recognized, less than half attended.”

Further in the story, reporter Christopher Carter mentions the district does not have a program assisting its students transition from life on the reservation — attending school with other Native Americans — to attending a majority white school.

However, it is noted, the district could apply for money to create such a program.

It should.

Perhaps if it did, more Native American students would feel ceremonies such as Monday’s were actually for them.