Written by Aerin Guy, Neighbourhood of Learning
Thank you to the many Rossland residents and businesses who submitted their letters to SD20 as part of the Facilities Consultation process.
Written submissions were accepted until Jan. 4, and many people and businesses took time over the busy holiday season to express their opinions.
With well over 175 submissions, Rosslanders have spoken and the messages are powerful. You can see all of them, including the Neighbourhood of Learning submission here.
The critical next step in the Facilities Planning process is a Public Forum that is open for participation from the entire community. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30 pm.
We need Rosslanders to pack the RSS Gymnasium to the rafters! If you haven’t purchased your I Love RSS buttons or T-shirts, now is the time.
T-shirts are available at the school office. You can also buy a t-shirt for $8 at the Alpine Grind, and receive a free drink with your purchase. We encourage the community to come out and show your support for K-12 Education in Rossland.
The Jan. 15 Public Forum is an opportunity for the community to discuss the closure and reconfiguration options for Rossland, and for SD20 Trustees to gather information and engage in conversation with residents.
The format of this event is a roundtable discussion.
Tables will be set up in the RSS Gymnasium and attendees will have an opportunity to speak with each other and with Trustees from SD20.
The ideas gathered from the tables may be reported back to the entire group, and will be collated and shared with the school board after the forum.
There will be a 45-minute session to hear individual comments scheduled to take place following the table conversations.
Residents are encouraged to read the two page brief prepared by the Neighbourhood of Learning Committee.
You can find it at vssrossland.wordpress.com/latest-news/brief-the-short-form-final/
The importance of community support for this forum cannot be overestimated.
With few opportunities remaining to engage in the Board’s consultation process, it is imperative that all citizens with an interest in and concern about the future of public education in Rossland attend and share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
Packing the gym will send a strong message that Rossland values K-12 education in our community.
The Rossland school configurations currently under consideration by School District 20 (SD20) are:
1. RSS closed; MacLean grades K-7; grades 8-12 at JL Crowe;
2. RSS grades K-9; MacLean closed; grades 10-12 at JL Crowe and
3. RSS grades K-12; MacLean closed.
An informal poll conducted in December revealed that over 35 families with 63 children would choose to seek education outside of SD20 (either through homeschooling or moving to another district) for any grades unavailable in Rossland.
These numbers don’t include all those who would put their children in an independent school if it were available, which many parents would like to see in Rossland, as they are tired of the constant threat of school closure.
We encourage everyone to come out and share your voice on Jan. 15.