School trustee Sam Hancheroff (far right in front row) would spend $10 million on a trades and technology facility in School District 53. He is joined by fellow trustees Robert Zandee and Marieze Tarr (in front row), and (back row) June Harrington, Rachel Allenbrand, Debbie Marten and Myrna Coates. What would you spend $10 million on?
We all dream of winning the lottery, but what would you do with $10 million?
School trustee Sam Hancheroff knows exactly what he would do with the money in School District 53.
“I would target the monies for an extensive trades and technology facility. This facility would offer a wide range of courses that would benefit any student wanting to learn a trade.”
Hancheroff said courses would be offered to students from Grades 5-12. In addition, students attending alternate learning facilities such as distributed learning, learning centres or homeschooling would have the same opportunity.
Graduated students needing to retrain, or even seniors wanting to upgrade would be able to enrol.
“I would also work hard with the provincial government and Okanagan College to develop opportunities for inmates from the proposed correctional facility in Oliver,” Hancheroff said.
He noted that younger students would be encouraged to learn basic skills in carpentry, food, mechanics, etc. And students in older grades would have opportunities to take welding, automotive, plumbing, electrical, viticulture, health care, cooking/nutrition, etc.
“The advantage here is that students, having attended our facility, would be better prepared to take courses offered through colleges working towards earning a Red Seal Certificate in their trade.”
Hancheroff said School District 53 does offer trades programs in its secondary schools, and an introduction program called “Yes2It” for Grades 5-7 students. However, the advantage of having a central trades and technology facility opens opportunities to a far greater population of secondary and graduated students within the region, he pointed out.
Hancheroff said they have seen more secondary students graduating when they have opportunities to pursue options in trades.
“This is one of the most important goals of our school district, that being to encourage our students to graduate with skills that will prepare them for either the workforce or for further academic studies.”
The trustee said he believes that a trades facility could attract families to the area, which would create new opportunities.
But like the lottery, all we can do is dream about these things.
If you won $10 million and could spend it on anything for the good of Oliver, what would it be? Give us your answers on the website or Facebook.
