Warren Olson, executive director of the Kitsap County Economic Development Council, said school numbers are a good indicator of what is happening in the county as a whole. He also points to the slow decline of jobs at the shipyard and the continued lack of a diverse private job base. Olson said the recent troubles facing the ferry system doesn't help the situation. Olson, who used to work in the Central Kitsap School District, said he puts a lot of faith in the school enrollment numbers and so does the business community. Olson quickly pointed out that so far there hasn't been any major evidence of that happening.
Retail stores continue to stay and grow in the county.
There is a bright side to having steady or declining numbers of students in your school system.