Former mayor on new RMS

All of our children deserve an equal environment to learn in. It has taken far too long for a new school to be built to replace Rutland Middle School.

Throughout the district, new and beautiful schools have appeared where staff and students alike are educated within up to date facilities. This is not the case with our young children who continue to be taught in the aging Rutland Middle School.

The school board is correct in stating that enough is enough and that funds need to be allocated to the district for this priority. However, the school board must also propose the solution for relocation or rebuild on a new or current site.

I believe that funds should be identified to strategically plan and prioritize a number of options and propose a timeline needed for a new home for Rutland Middle School. I am aware that options were considered in the past, and it is time to revisit those options and identify any new ones and inform the community on what these are. 

Parents throughout the community should then lobby the MLAs, premier and the minister of education, municipal leaders and support the school board in this endeavour. 

I believe a new school for Rutland Middle students and staff should be one of the most important goals for our region. Doing repairs is not enough, although they will provide a temporary solution. 

As a community, we need to insist on a permanent new facility. It is long overdue!

The children who attend Rutland Middle School deserve this so they are being taught in a healthy environment that so many other children from our area are in.

Sharon Shepherd, Kelowna