It’s been an immense two month stretch for the North Kitsap School District’s Athletics and Activities Committee. The group has put in its mental calisthenics as it nears completion of its recommendation for the NKSD’s secondary athletics in 2007-2008.

Kingston High School is set to open beginning that school year along with a grade level transition which will change the NKSD junior highs (grades 7-9) into middle schools (grades 6-8) and the two high schools into a 9-12 format. Since last year, the AAC has been mulling over how that will affect the district’s secondary athletic programs.

“I think the committee really kept the kids in mind,” said NKSD board director Ed Strickland. “They quit playing the game of who’s gonna have the best team, and they really thought about what’s best for kids.”

The AAC held a study session with the board and WIAA assistant director Jim Meyerhoff Nov. 6 to discuss whether or not a league change would be best for North Kitsap High School students.

The Vikings are committed to the 4A Narrows League for a two-year cycle, but with the district shakeup next year, they will only be 3A. Meyerhoff said a league change was something the district would have to discuss specifically with the Narrows League.

During the study session, the group also reviewed the possibility of a combined varsity football team between Kingston and North Kitsap.

But Meyerhoff said it was an all or nothing decision in the fact that the district could not house a JV program at Kingston while sending its varsity players to play at North Kitsap.

“The committee had to take that part and make a recommendation on whether or not they were going to have football at Kingston,” Strickland said.

The AAC held a three-hour session Tuesday, working to finalize its recommendation before Dec. 14 when the committee will formally present it proposal to the board.

Committee chair Gregg Epperson declined on the issue, however, the AAC will update the community on its preliminary recommendation for grades 6-12 at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 in the LGI classroom at NKHS. The committee will also be gathering input and continuing to survey the community about the recommendations during the meeting and online at www.nksd.wednet.edu.

“I think all of the recommendations being made on athletics are going to be overshadowed by the cost factor,” Strickland said. “We really hate to see the kids have to pay to play, I cringe when I hear that.”