The North Kitsap School Board made the right decision when it voted 3-2 on Sept. 26 to not build a press box at Buccaneer Field.

Some boosters feel the board has reneged on a promise to build the press box – it would primarily be an announcer’s booth, though there would have been room for coaches and reporters too. The KHS Athletic Boosters raised $30,000 for the booth.

But with instability in the district’s finances and enrollment, the timing just isn’t right. Turns out, construction of the press box would have cost an estimated $84,865, much more than expected. That would have required a commitment of $54,000 from the district to complete the funding.

School Board member Tom Anderson said he’d prefer the money be used to build restrooms to replace the portable toilets at the field. People would benefit more from restrooms than from knowing an announcer – and perhaps a reporter or two – are shielded from inclement weather.

Now, one thing that bothered the boosters is that the school board vote was the first they’d heard that the project they’d raised money for was being pulled. The school board gets a ding for that; boosters deserved the courtesy of being kept in the loop.

In the meantime, perhaps a commercial canopy would suffice until an announcer’s booth can be built.