The time has come for new middle school

I recently became acutely aware of the urgent need to replace Sandpoint Middle School when my daughter started attending. While the school's exterior may not raise immediate concerns, its internal infrastructure is gradually crumbling.

This realization struck home last week. On Dec. 7, when a message informed us that the heating system had to be shut down abruptly due to a ruptured steam pipe. Families were urged to send their children to school the next day with a sweatshirt to endure the chilly conditions.

Shortly after, on Dec. 10, another message conveyed news of a water line rupture that flooded the school, prompting closure Dec. 11-12. Remote learning, necessitated by the closure, served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced during the pandemic.