I appreciate your efforts to include balanced perspectives. And while usually disagree with her conclusions, I particularly find Marcia Kelbon’s “Out of Balance” column to be well reasoned and thoughtful most of the time. I am even reminded of the legacy of Gov. Dan Evans, one of the nearly extinct Republicans who could reach across the great chasm to get things done. But I have to take exception to Ms. Kelbon’s April 2 column. I cannot take issue with the facts she presents. Rather, my issue is with her conclusion that worrying about transsexual athletes in high school competitions is worthy of the attention of the Quilcene Board of Trustees. Really? It’s been widely reported that there are about eight trans athletes competing in American high schools. This is another imaginary crisis ginned up to distract America from real issues. Perhaps the board might be better employed engaging itself in how to advance the post-secondary options available to students. In Washington, more than 48 percent of high school graduates enroll in colleges and universities within a year of graduation. Port Townsend High’s rate is 52 percent. Chimacum’s is 38 percent. Quilcene apparently does not see fit to release its post-secondary outcomes, based on a pretty deep internet search. Are we really best served by chasing phantom demons, or should we not engage ourselves in opening doors to the widest range of opportunities for our young people? I think the answer is manifest.

Mark Paxton

Port Townsend