Letter to the Editor: Commends decision on Historic School project

I wish to commend the New Kent Board of Supervisors for its prudence and foresight in seeking to move forward with the Historic School renovation project towards providing a cost-effective approach to the expansion of elementary education facilities.

As opposed to new construction, I believe that this option is not only more cost-effective but also establishes a forward-looking approach to future education investments within the county. Just as brick-and-mortar retail establishments, the music industry, and the book industry have disrupted by technology, our education systems themselves are set to be challenged over the next decade through this process that might be called ‘creative disruption’ (rather than ‘creative destruction’). The Internet offers new opportunities and options for enhancing student education.

This does not necessarily mean that the existing educational infrastructure will become obsolete but that significant opportunities may exist for increased tailoring, and improving education for individual students or groups according to their needs. These changes will require a different mindset regarding the consideration of both physical and virtual education facilities. For example, it is conceivable that a movement towards adding off-campus study/learning may dictate a reduced need for new physical (brick-and-mortar) educational campuses in the future.

Of course, the ultimate goal is to provide New Kent students with the facilities, tools, and options for a high-quality education at a cost that is justifiable to taxpayers. Today’s technologies and innovations have the potential to offer exceptional opportunities to achieve this goal, if we are open to their consideration and take time for their evaluation.

Ron Durrer
New Kent