Rocklin High School is preparing to make changes, and this time, students are part of the conversation. Administration recently sent out a Google Form asking for input on future campus projects. We appreciate that they asked what students think. It feels like a real chance for student voices to help shape what comes next on our campus.
Right now, the basics still need attention. Every day, students walk under leaking ceilings and sit at cracked or wobbly desks. They pass closed or unreliable water fountains. Many restrooms feel outdated and poorly maintained. These are not small hassles. They shape how comfortable students feel on campus and how proud they are of RHS. That is why many students are less excited about ideas like new fences, expanded announcer areas, or more decorative walkways. Those kinds of projects might look good on a campus tour or a flyer, but they do not help a student find a clean bathroom between classes or refill a water bottle on a hot day.
Students also notice what is working. More lunch tables have eased crowding and made it easier to sit with friends. The beach volleyball court and scoreboard add energy to games and give athletes a real home court. Bottle-filling stations are popular because they are fast and practical. These are the kinds of improvements students actually use every day, and they point to them when they talk about what feels helpful on campus.
Future projects should build on that. Renovations should focus first on practical fixes that support daily life at school. Bathrooms need regular upkeep so they stay clean, stocked, and open throughout the day. Water fountains and bottle-filling stations across campus should work reliably so getting a drink is simple, not a scavenger hunt. Ceilings should be repaired before leaks spread, and broken desks and classroom furniture should be replaced or fixed so students can work comfortably and safely in class.
This is not a new campus. RHS first opened in 1993, with more permanent buildings completed in 1998. For almost three decades, thousands of students have moved through the same halls, sat in the same rooms, and used the same restrooms. There is real history in these floors. Keeping what makes RHS familiar should go hand in hand with maintaining and updating the spaces students use every day.
The heart of RHS is its students and staff. They are the ones who fill the stands on Friday nights and stay after school for sports and clubs. Facilities should back up that work. When students ask for working fountains, better bathrooms, more shade, and repaired ceilings, they are not asking for luxury. They are asking for a campus that supports the time they already spend here.
We want to recognize that asking for feedback is a meaningful step. It tells students that their opinions matter and gives them a way to speak up about what they see every day. The next step is to let that feedback shape the order of projects. We encourage school and district leaders to keep talking with students as plans develop. Explain which projects are required and which are flexible. A campus that takes care of students’ everyday needs is one that people are proud to represent on the field, in the classroom, and long after they graduate.
