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Vol. 7 • Issue 51
jodie@mountaintownproperties.ca
Thursday, December 20 • 2012
Rossland Secondary Grade 6/7 Recent Rossland grad fundraisput on Christmas concert ing for Guatemalan village on Page 2 See Page 4
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At the flashing light intersection, Rossland
No Frets, a group of Rossland’s young fiddlers played some Christmas themed medleys during the Dec. 16 Joe Hill Coffeehouse. The show was the last one of the year. Arne Petryshen photo
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NOL highlights need for input in school closure debate ARNE PETRYSHEN Rossland News Editor
The future of Rossland schools hangs in the balance as a decision on what form they will take is expected to be in For February Yourmade Horoscope the Week by School 20. Oninside Tuesday night, withDistrict Michael O’Connor Horoscope thethe WestNeighbourhood Kootenay Advertiser of LearnFor the Week ing committee hosted an inforRosslandNews_Dec6to Jan10.pdf 11/19/2012 3:59:01 PM with Michael O’Connor mation session on the options inside the West Kootenay Advertiser for Rossland and to answer
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questions on the process. Well over 60 concerned parents and residents came to the info session, which precedes the school district’s public forum on Jan. 15 at RSS. That night will be a chance for residents to give their input directly. The district is also taking written submissions, but those only until Friday, Jan. 4. At the meeting, Jennifer Ellis, NOL co-ordinator talked about the importance of put-
ting in your input, and the committee put together some key points to address in submissions. School District Trustees Gordon Smith and Mickey Kinakin were also in attendance, as well as Coun. Kathy Moore. Gordon is Rossland’s Trustee and former chair of the district board. Mickey is a trustee from Electoral Area I and J of RDCK. Both helped to paint the
reality and also suggest what tone could help Rossland have a better chance to get them to see eye to eye. Smith brought up the reality that the district is facing, with year after year of budget cuts and a provincial government that has once again changed the funding formula to further cripple the districts coffers. He said that the board is looking at each item line by line on the budget and that
By banking locally with our credit union, and shopping locallly with our local businesses, you ensure a vibrant community and a dynamic local economy, since decisions are kept close to home. We all share a common bond with a commitment to keeping interest local.
while the estimated $143,000 that the district would save per year doesn’t look like much, the district is looking at “dollars and cents.” A member of the public countered that there was the possibility that Rossland high school students may opt to homeschool rather than bus down to Trail, and that if 20 students left the district to do that, it would amount to a loss See SD20 on P. 4