It’s a furniture frenzy for NKSD
Published 1:00 am Wednesday, October 1, 2008
POULSBO — Christmas came early for the North Kitsap School District.
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems is consolidating and moving its staff to a location in Keyport, and the new location is already equipped with furniture. Raytheon was left with hundreds of pieces of fine furnishings to dispose of and opted to give NKSD dibs on what pieces the district might like to assume ownership of. It’s an approximate $50,000-75,000 furniture donation. A few years ago Rayethon gifted NKSD nearly $200,000 worth of second-hand furnishings.
“It’s very important for Raytheon as a company to reach out to the community and do all we can,” said Glenda Ledford, facilities and securities manager. “When we knew we had to displace some furniture our first call was to the school district. We’re very heavily in to community activities.”
The gift is coming at an ideal time for NKSD.
Chris Case, NKSD director of communications, said in light of the recent rounds of budget cuts one of the first funding casualities is furniture. NKSD also hasn’t been able to replace much of the worn out furnishings.
“We haven’t been able to replace anything and a gift like this really frees up funds,” Case said. “This is really a landmark gift. We’re just thrilled.”
The fun began a few weeks ago when NKSD administrative staff toured the complex on Hostmark, to choose and label a plethora of chairs, desks, couches, tables and lamps. On Monday, as the final selections were being decided, walls of furnishings with NKSD nametags — NKHS, Spec, DO — were ready to be moved onto location.
“It was like Christmas, we walked into a big furniture showroom and they said, ‘What do you want?’ ” Case said. “It’s so much fun. It’s just gorgeous.”
Case said North Kitsap High is the first priority, as its remodel is nearing completion and most of the district’s other schools got what was needed in the last Raytheon furniture giveaway. Spectrum Community School will receive a hefty helping of goods, as will the district office.
“A lot of desks and other things helpful for classrooms is going to Spectrum,” Case said. “This should really help dress up Spectrum.”
