A brand new school year is upon us but students at Rutland Middle School (RMS) will be walking into a building older than most of their parents.

The 71-year-old facility that welcomes Rutlandsa国际传媒檚 Grade 6 through eight students has seen no progress or announcement to upgrade, rebuild or expand.

A new-age education does not belong in a 71-year-old building according to RMSsa国际传媒檚 PAC president Marie Howell, who called the situation sa国际传媒渆xtremely disappointing.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淪tudents, teachers and staff at RMS will be returning to a school that now has 12 repurposed portables, which are eating up the shared sports fields with Rutland Senior Secondary,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淭o no onesa国际传媒檚 surprise, the main core building continues to age.

sa国际传媒淎llowing schools to age beyond their expiry dates and adding more portables to school grounds are both equally irresponsible by any government in power.sa国际传媒�

The middle school has seen some improvements over the last few years with additional gender-neutral washrooms being added last year. Howell said that although these new facilities are appreciated, itsa国际传媒檚 a sa国际传媒淏and-Aid solution.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淭he bigger challenges RMS will face over the next decade will be the maintenance, lack of accessibility, a steadily growing population and safety concerns for the students. All of which could be resolved with a new school,sa国际传媒� she said.

Howell also mentions the brand new $38 million Canyon Falls Middle School as an obvious divide of old and new.

sa国际传媒淭he socio-economic divide observed between the two schools is seen in the buildings itself, the locations, and the surrounding neighbourhoods,sa国际传媒� Howell said.

sa国际传媒淵et children are supposed to be attending public schools that are equivalent.sa国际传媒�

Howell heaped praise on the students and staff of RMS for making the best of a challenging situation.

sa国际传媒淭he building will continue to be what it is but the students will not let it define them as future citizens, instead it will make them more diverse, resilient and innovative people,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淭his does not mean the families in Rutland will give up on their desire to have a school building that honours the Rutland students.sa国际传媒�

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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