UPDATE: Isabella Morris students relocated despite parents' concerns
Students were relocated following an outcry from parents and teachers of the school about a mould outbreak that had allegedly forced at least 36 students to seek medical treatment for complications suspected to have resulted from mould infection.
A meeting was held at the school’s location on May 9, 2013 with Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn to determine an “amicable way forward” for all stakeholders involved.
Some parents have argued that there was no final agreement on the relocation of the students at the Centre as there was no discussion about the suitability or sanitation of the location and expressed surprise when reports were issued regarding transportation arrangements for students from Carrot Bay. Some parents opted to take their children to the Centre on their own today.
Principal of the school, Mrs Sylvia Adams, stated today that, “there were a few parents who dropped off the children and they said they wanted to drop them off just to look and see where we are now.”
According to the Principal, everyone was suitably informed about the relocation and none of the students remained at the former location in Carrot Bay, which has since been closed.
She reported that there was full cooperation from parents and students in settling the students at the Centre and said there were no difficulties experienced today.
Previously, Mrs Adams warned stakeholders in a letter dated May 7, 2013 that, “at this time the problems have become even more severe and there is an urgent need for us to vacate our school campus once again.”
“We intend to stay here until we get an ‘all clear’ from authorities that the [Carrot Bay location] is safe…” Mrs Adams stated, “we do not intend to return there until the place is safe.”
The Principal was uncertain about any new discussions regarding their temporary location and said everything was being handled by the Department of Education.
Meanwhile, at least one parent remained concerned about the new arrangements in place. She related that no one discussed anything with the parents or bus drivers about what was going on. “If anything happens to those children there will be a problem here in this place and I mean it,” she said while expressing concern about the time the students were asked to report to the school to be picked up.
See previous article posted on May 12, 2013:
Parents feel betrayed by Education Minister
- allege they were not properly informed about school arrangement
CARROT BAY, Tortola, VI - A number of parents of students of the Isabella Morris Primary School are claiming they were not properly consulted and contacted about the decision to have their children housed at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre as promised.
The Ministry of Education through the government's communication media, Government Information Service (GIS), issued a press release on May 10, 2013 captioned "Transportation Arrangements for Students of Isabella Morris", which sought to inform parents of students of the Isabella Morris Primary School that classes would resume at the regular time on Monday, May 13 at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre.
"Parents are advised that transportation arrangements have been made for students to be transported from the school grounds to the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre at 8:15 A.M. and back at 3:45 P.M. Parents are kindly asked to ensure that their children are dropped off and picked up on time," informed the release.
Virgin Islands News Online contacted a number of parents to confirm their agreement on the use of the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre as several of them had voiced their discomfort about a number of issues as it related to that building during their most recent meeting with Minister for Education Hon. Myron V. Walwyn.
"Yes the Minister said that they were going to inform us but this what you telling me is news to my ears," said one parent. She said she thought that they were going to be called to a meeting to discuss the forward plans.
Another parent said, "I am appalled that after that long discussion and many promises, the Minister reneged on his promise that he was going to inform parents that the community centre was suitable for our children." The parent said that, only to be told of a transportation schedule afterwards, "that was not the arrangement. Once again we are side tracked," said an emotional mother.
The parent said she felt parents of the school are not getting the required respect as they should and that the situation being experienced is not being taken seriously.
"Two things are key to people, everyone, their health and education and those are the very two things this government is toying around with," alleged the parent.
According to another parent, he found it very sad that the Minister for Education could have stood in the meeting to say that the issues of mould at the school, and children falling sick, were brought to his attention at the Government On the Road Meeting. "That matter was raised since February and should be in the reports of the Education Department, so to say that means his officers are the ones sinking him by not doing their job."
Two parents were adamant the matter of mould infestation at the school was not handled with the level of urgency it should have been by the principal of the school. "I am sorry to say this, I am empathetic to them, but it was not until she and her favourite teacher started bawling, that was sad," he said.
Parents have expressed the fear that they are being frustrated through a process, which could see the Isabella Morris Primary School being closed.
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32 Responses to “UPDATE: Isabella Morris students relocated despite parents' concerns”
Pathetic!
shame on this set of cabinet men it really sures no unity amongs them
THEY WANT TO MUCH WHAT THEY WANT A BUS DRIVE OVER TO CANE GARDEN BAY CENTRE, THE BIG PROBLEM IS HEALTH AND EDUCATION, HOW CAN YOU ENTER A CHILD IN A MOULD BUILDING TO LEARN COMMON SENSE PEOPLE THATS YOUR HEALTH.
NEXT EDUCATION THEY NEED, UNTIL THAT IS FIX WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE TO TEACH THE CHILDERN INSTEAD OF LEAVING THEM HOME COMMON SENSE............IT LOOK THAT SIDE OF THE ISLAND ARE JUST DUMB TO SEE THAT.
You get there and make comments about the parents are Dumb, You is an a$$hole to make such a comment. If you were there to the meeting you would know what was said in the meeting..
The NDP politicians are bad for ALL AH WE
listen out for some half @$$ bake statement in the house of assembly saying nothingness