Dear Editor,
I stand in awe of the Trustees of School District 74, Gold Trail. On the evening of June 2, 2015, with the stroke of a pen or computer keyboard, they not only named the renovated school, but due to the fact that there was already one DSS in the district they created a whole new community, Desert Sands, and all within a few moments’ time.
I am sure that they have already sought a charter and are in the process of gaining recognition by the provincial government so that they can be included on any future maps of British Columbia. I am also sure that the community of seven will experience exponential growth in the near future. It actually has already, that evening when they returned home to their families and informed them of the new community created and their vision for its future.
I am given to understand that the District holds clear title to the land on which the school stands. This is a good thing, as they will not have to negotiate with the adjacent Village of Ashcroft over land title.
I must admire their resolve to stand forth in the face of the strong opposition from the adjacent community of Ashcroft. There should be no problem negotiating a joint utilities agreement and an agreement on policing, fire, and ambulance services.
The people of Ashcroft should applaud the new community of Desert Sands for taking much of the educational portion of the tax burden off their hands. They should now have taxes commensurate with those of Walhachin, Loon Lake, and Spences Bridge because they no longer have a school within their community.
The economic base of Desert Sands will be solely educational in the immediate future, and as such all costs for the operation of the community should be borne by SD74.
On a lighter note, it is has been asked in the past “Where are you when you are beyond Hope?” The answer has been in Spuzzum. Now perhaps it could be asked “And just where are you when you are beyond Spuzzum?” Of course, the immediate reply could be in Desert Sands. Students attending Desert Sands Community School, when asked just where the community of Desert Sands is, can answer that it’s between the communities of Ashcroft and Cache Creek.
Mike Baldwin,
Ashcroft