Letters from June 10

Pet care

Spay or neuter your pets

Once again PAWS of Bremerton and all animal welfare societies have been inundated by puppies and kittens by the bushel. Every year at this time, we spread the word to spay or neuter your pet, and this year we are yelling even louder.

We’re having a hard time keeping up! Some veterinarians in this area will accept payments, if money is the reason for your hesitation. If you have already been responsible, extend a spay/neuter offer to a friend, neighbor or stray animal. Consider it an act of charity and consider that as many as eight fewer puppies or kittens may end up homeless and/or reproducing on their own. Also, Bremerton PAWS offers a program for assistance to low-income people.

Five million dogs and cats will be killed in U.S. shelters this year. Of these 4.5 million are healthy cats, dogs, treatable pets, feral cats or pets who could be placed with extra effort. Please support spaying and neutering which will, in turn, support animals and animal welfare groups.

B.J. ALCORN

Vice president

PAWS of Bremerton

Schools

CKSD saw drop coming

The CKSD has a study that is 10-15 years old. That study predicted the decline in students that the district is facing and has been facing for the past 10 years. (The district is not really “facing” the problem — they appear to be, more or less, thinking about “facing” the problem.) The district, superintendents and school board members have chosen to do nothing about the study and the continuing decline in population except to hope and pray that some new ship or ships will be homeported here — every member of the crews will of course be married and have three or four children of school age. That ship has not come in nor will it. It is something like believing in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.

As a result, the school district maintains and operates at least two schools that are excess to state standards and that could be closed at a potential savings of $400,000 to $600,000 each per year, and dozens of portables that are excess to those same standards and to the district’s needs. In addition, the district accommodates some 300 to 350 children from other districts — these students bring state money but no levy money — meaning another school that could be closed. But then, what is a $1 million more or less to the CKSD.

Add to that the administrative salaries for the superintendent and others that are raised each year in the face of a declining school population.

Something must be done. I’m afraid that the CKSD board and Superintendent lack the courage to do it.

JOHN FARBARIK

Silverdale

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