Voters at a town meeting in April approved a feasibility study of the integrity and usability of Lester J. Gates Intermediate School over the coming years. The study, valued at $65000, will be paid for with Community Preservation Act funds, and will be undertaken by Durkee Brown Viveiros Werenfels Architects from Providence, Rhode Island.  The study raises a question that has plagued Scituate residents for years: just what exactly should we do about Gates?

    Just a stone throw away, Marshfield residents recently approved a 101 million-dollar project to build a completely new, three-story high school. This is only one of many state-of-the art educational facilities built in or around the South Shore. And for those of us who remember, it’s pretty clear that Gates is in for a major renovation. Brendan Dear, 8th grader at Gates, tells us that in terms of daily problems in the school, “The bathrooms are grimy”.

    There is definitely a general attitude among some of us that ‘Gates doesn’t matter’. But putting serious consideration into the potential of our middle-schoolers could allow for greater educational opportunities throughout our lives. Students coming from Gates should have the same opportunities there as they do at the High School.

    For those of us who have attended Gates, it’s not a matter of lackluster staff or educational opportunities. Students have demonstrated a will to perform that is not reflected by the physical building. When the educational process is crowded by growing concerns over the structural integrity of the campus, there’s added distractions that interfere with the potential for middle school students.

    While some may feel reluctant about another spending measure after the recent override, it’s necessary to put some serious time into Gates so that funds and effort is distributed equally along the whole of our educational experience. Whether this means minor renovations or  new building, the study can tell. But one thing is for certain, as a school district we cannot afford to use facilities that do not enhance students potential. Gates should be viewed as the ultimate priority for the district in the upcoming year. Regardless of our as a school committee, it needs to remain clear that Gates was, and is, a vital component of our education.