Reporter Central Kitsap
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FRIDAY, June 7, 2013 | Vol. 28, No. 36 | www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.com | 50¢
District breaks ground on new Jackson Park school
Teen says she was singled out for her prom dress By WES MORROW wmorrow@soundpublishing.com
Wes Morrow/staff photo
From left to right, school board members Mark Gaines and Eric Greene, principal Tess McCartan, Superintendent Greg Lynch, board members Bruce Richards, Jeanie Schulze and Chris Stokke break ground on the new school on Tuesday. By WES MORROW wmorrow@soundpublishing.com
The Central Kitsap School District broke ground on a new Jackson Park Elementary School Tuesday.
The district held a ceremony on the playing field of the current Jackson Park campus to celebrate the occasion and commemorate the old building. Superintendent Greg
Foster parents dedicated to helping children By Michelle Beahm mbeahm@centralkitsapreporter.com
Phil and Kathleen Nenninger have always loved kids and have spent their lives being involved in everything their three children, ages 17,
21, and 23, have done from coaching sports to volunteering their time. But even with their children almost grown, their house is still full of young children. Phil and Kathleen are foster parents.
Lynch addressed the crowd, which included the elementary school’s students, staff, parents and community members. “Students, you’ve got a lot to look forward to,”
he said. The new Jackson Park will be a two story, 60,000 square foot building with 24 classrooms — big enough to hold
“It’s by far the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do,” Phil, 48, said. “I’ve been active in our kids’ lives. (I’ve) been a Pee-Wee president. Kathleen’s run concessions. We’ve volunteered and been involved in just about anything our kids do. But by far, the most rewarding thing … every night we go to bed and they are clothed, in a clean environment, fed well.” The couple has fostered more than 20 children and currently have four in their household, three are under 5 years old, and one is 19 years old and signed herself into the “Foster Care to 21”
program at 18 to continue to get support from the state while she goes to college in Spokane. The Nenningers decided to become foster parents more than five years ago when their church pastor’s wife held an informational class. Kathleen, 46, recalled that the woman said that if you’ve ever considered doing it “someday,” then there is no “someday” and to do it now. Since the Nenningers had considered doing it “someday,” they took her advice. They included their own
See SCHOOL, A13
See FOSTER, A11
W hen Brit ta ny Minder showed up on prom night she was just as excited as any other 17-year-old student at the biggest school dance of the year. That excitement quickly faded, however, when she was denied entry to the dance. Central Kitsap High School administrators stopped Brittany outside for showing too much cleavage. She was eventually admitted on the provision she cover up with a shawl, but she left after only an hour. “It wasn’t a good experience for me,” Brittany said. “I didn’t want to stay there if I was feeling miserable.” In Brittany’s account of the story, she said a female administrator stopped her and asked
Wes Morrow/Staff Photo
Brittany Minder her to pull up the dress because she had too much cleavage exposed. Brittany said she complied with the request and it seemed the female administrator was going to let her in as long as she kept the bodice pulled up. But then a male administrator told her she wouldn’t be allowed in See MINDER, A13
Michelle Beahm/ Staff Photo
Phil Nenninger bottle-feeds a foster child in his care.