Friday, August 2, 2013 | North Kitsap Herald
Indianola
Continued from page A1 to the dock, the barrier was taken down and dumped on her front lawn. On another occasion, eggs were thrown at her house. “I don’t know why I was singled out,” Frank said. “It’s not worth worrying about my home’s safety, my family’s safety.” The board held a special meeting July 23 to review the engineer’s assessment and recommendations and discuss a property tax levy increase. At least 50 people attended. The public comment period included speakers who supported the commissioners, and speakers making accusations of port commissioners making decisions based on false information.
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Continued from page A1 to Poulsbo in 2001; he had lived in South Kitsap since 1979. He served on the South Kitsap board for eight years and the state board for one year. He works at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a project planning engineer, and also works for Kitsap Transit. His children attended Kitsap public schools. One of the biggest issues Ames sees for the board is communication, he said in a previous interview: There have been a lot of misconceptions regarding decisions such as closing Breidablik Elementary School, cutting teaching positions, and various program funding cuts. He said every decision the board makes is personal to someone, but less funding from declining enrollment is forcing those cuts. He is frustrated that people listen to “pieces” of the information being given regarding
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“When this meeting happened [on July 23] … there is a certain group of Indianolaians that seem to think they don’t abide by the rules … and [commission chair Jeff Henderson] didn’t enforce them,” Frank said. She called the angry reaction a “brutal situation.” Commissioner Joan Wald understands why Frank decided to resign, but, “It’s a huge loss,” she said. “I’m very saddened by it. She was a hard worker,” Wald said. “Whatever she does, she does extremely well.” Wald has seen the brunt of the angry reaction to the dock closure, she said. Through the port’s website, commissioners received several negative comments, and Wald was sent emails to the same affect. Ninety-nine percent of the
cuts, and jump to conclusions. Ames would like to see district staff make creative decisions on how to consolidate programs. He wants every student to continue to get the education they need, even if the programs they are in “look different.” “I believe that an excellent education of our young people in this community in North Kitsap is paramount to our future as we move forward in these financially uncertain times,” Ames’ statement reads. “I know the experience I have will bring a positive approach to school operation as we move forward to a leaner and very effective North Kitsap School District.” Prichard told the Herald Wednesday that running for school board has been a learning process. He’s noticed similar themes in what’s important to the public regarding education, but everyone has a “slightly different take on what’s critical.” The most important
“When you hold public office, you’re going to have those people who don’t like what you’re doing.”
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community is supportive of the board’s decisions, but the “handful” of outspoken people “have a different opinion,” Wald said. “When you hold public office, you’re going to have those people who don’t like what you’re doing,” Wald said. Wald and Commissioner Jeff Henderson have 90 days to appoint a person to the position. If they fail
to do so, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners has an additional 90 days to find a qualified appointee. Wald and Henderson will soon post the vacancy and ask for applications, she said. Henderson said after they receive applicants’ resumes, the board will hold a special meeting for interviews and to appoint someone for the position. The appointee will serve until January, when the newly elected commissioner takes over. “In Judith’s case, there were some personal affronts that are hard to swallow,” Henderson said. “She felt that [resigning] was the decision she needed to make. I supported her decision.” Frank had a “laundry list” of things she wanted to get done as commission-
er, she said. In her short time, the port updated is Comprehensive Plan, remodeled the website and applied for project permits. Anticipating repair and maintenance projects, the board worked with staff from the Poulsbo and Kingston ports to apply for the county’s shoreline exemption permit and the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s hydraulic project approval permit. Like Frank, Wald said she’s glad to have help guided the port into compliance, “Getting everything in line so we can address the dock situation,” she said. Wald will not be running for re-election; John Lane and Patrick Hatchel filed for the District 3 seat. Frank hopes “when this all dies down” with the
dock, people stay involved and work with the port. “The vast majority in the community are wonderful people and are very supportive of the [dock] process, but when you have a few people who do that, you have a problem,” Frank said, referring to the vandalism and angry reactions. “They’re like bullies on the playground, and then they wonder why no one wants to play.” The general election is Nov. 4. Two people have filed for District 2, which has two years remaining on its term. Eric Cookson and Matthew Smith both filed. Smith filed as a write-in candidate July 9. After the dock closure, Smith created an online petition to open the dock to the public, gaining more than 10,000 signatures.
issues Prichard sees is enrollment decline and transparency between the district and public. He wants to understand the “root causes” of declining student enrollment. Understanding and remedying enrollment decline is an issue that needs to be stressed to administration, he said. “It has to start with administration. It has to be important to them.” Prichard is also wary of the public’s perception of the school district and questions its ability to renew its tax levy. He wants the school board to “work really hard to gain support of the community.” Prichard is vice president of information systems at Bentall Kennedy, a real estate investment advisory and services organization. He has a background in budgets and project management. His and his wife have lived in the district for 14 years. Two sons are enrolled in the district. “Our school district is
currently faced with difficult choices necessary to restore financial stability,” Prichard’s voters’ pamphlet statement reads. “... It is critical to protect revenue as budget cuts are made, by preserving the quality education that keeps students in North Kitsap schools.” Worthington is running for school board “to give back to the community that has served my family for the last 18 years,” her statement in the voters’ pamphlet reads. “Both my children have attended NK schools. I will be a good steward of our public dollars that are allocated to invest in the future, by educating our young people. I will set a vision and implement strategies that meet the unique needs of all of our students. I will ask questions to promote full understanding before decision are made.” District budget cuts are tough, Worthington said in an earlier interview. However, because of declining enrollment and,
therefore, less funding, the education system needs to reflect fewer students, she said. Whatever decisions are made, she wants to preserve the district’s goal of providing learning opportunities for all students. According to her statement, her values are community engagement and transparency, management by facts and reliable predictions, financial responsibility, smaller class sizes, broad educational experiences, and sustaining excellence. Worthington has spoken with families sending their children to other districts to learn why there is declining enrollment; reasons include geography and programs offered. Worthington is interested to see which staff and programs will be restored
as the district works on the 2013-14 budget with more than $1 million more to work with. She advocates smaller class sizes and funding vital programs, such as music. “I will gather information and listen to the community to build a shared understanding of our needs and values,” her statement reads. “I will explore the challenges of today’s environment of declining enrollment and inadequate state funding. I will learn more about the competencies of our district’s programs and define strengths that can be leveraged.” Worthington, a 19-year Suquamish resident, is an engineer and project manager for National Defense Programs. She serves on the school district’s budget committee.
— Joan Wald, Indianola Port Commissioner
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