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Public schools forced to remain closed for 2 more weeks

- schools were set to reopen on September 4, 2017 but will remain closed for additional 2 weeks due to effects of flood waters
A flooded classroom at Elmore Stoutt High School following a flash flood on August 7, 2017. Photo: Facebook
The section of the perimeter wall at Elmore Stoutt High School that collapsed during the flash floods of August 7 and 8, 2017. Photo: VINO
The section of the perimeter wall at Elmore Stoutt High School that collapsed during the flash floods of August 7 and 8, 2017. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With the recent flash floods due to a tropical wave not sparing even the schools, students will now have an extra two weeks at home.

This announcement was officially made today, August 15, 2017 by the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Some of the public schools were affected by flood waters due to the tropical wave on August 7, 2017, with the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) apparently being the worst hit.

Some of the classrooms were flooded while the school compound was left swampy and muddied. One building in the ESHS compound was reportedly knocked off its wooden columns and had to be demolished.

A section of the concrete wall surrounding the high school also collapsed during the flash floods. 

Clean-up work is still in progress at the ESHS.

It is not clear the severity of the floods on the other public schools.

Meanwhile, classes begin for all public schools on September 18, 2017. Teachers, however, are expected to be on duty from August 4 to 8, 2017 to prepare for the opening of school.

New and transfer students are to report to their respective schools from September 13 while all returning students are to report to their respective schools on September 14 and 15, 2017.

There was no announcement as to the date public schools will now close for the Advent term.

16 Responses to “Public schools forced to remain closed for 2 more weeks”

  • question (15/08/2017, 17:03) Like (15) Dislike (10) Reply
    If school gets delayed for two weeks, how would lost time be regained? Will the holidays be shortened? Will the course load be lightened or more compacted? Will individual teachers and students have the option of staying late or coming in on the weekends for extra study time?
  • cay (15/08/2017, 17:45) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    SMH
  • Do the right thing by our children (15/08/2017, 18:38) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    obviously a proper assessment was done as the Minister originally noted school would start on time . Now that he's taken the time to review the matter FIX our schools once and for all!!
    Whilst this flood certainly caused damage there have been ongoing issues with so many of the public schools. No patch up work please and no ridiculous contracts with inexperienced contractors !!! Do the right thing by our children and manage this carefully. We are watching and will hold this government accountable.
    • wize up (15/08/2017, 20:12) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ do the right thing: you acting like the education system began in the territory under this government; our schools need proper attention many many many years ago: I agree that whom ever in charge must give more care to our children: as an example in 2017 our children still gathering under tent both at the high school and at the college while other are given over 10 million of our tax dollars(just saying....)
  • Marlon (15/08/2017, 20:59) Like (56) Dislike (4) Reply
    Give me a break. This mess could have been cleaned up long time if we had only let the UK Military in. Now our kids must suffer a two week loss of education. I am sooooo ashamed of this whole thing.
  • DON Q (15/08/2017, 22:16) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    I feel like we have been pushed back to 1960s under this gang. It is unreal.
  • trrefdrfds (15/08/2017, 22:33) Like (37) Dislike (6) Reply
    The longer the NDP stays in Office, the more the danger grows. Send Help Lord
  • Tsk (16/08/2017, 01:30) Like (17) Dislike (6) Reply
    A country of complainers. Dò nothing and the people complain. Do something and they complain louder .
  • COUNTRY (16/08/2017, 01:54) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    That shows plainly that the help from the British ship was needed. This government is taking the territory down a slippery slope. Greed for continued power is causing this country to collapse. Now. We are opening up ourselves for a takeover. Hope the students will be given makeup days to cover the curriculum properly.
    • If laziness was a crime (16/08/2017, 11:17) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      Everybody who come on here and talking about ship coming to help clean up have the energy to go out there and do the helping instead.The time you take to come on here go out and help with the clean up and you will be surprised at how quick it can be done.Many hands make less work.
      • @if laziness was a crime (19/08/2017, 14:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Come on. Help is help and obviously the territory needs help.

        Some people had to clean up their own businesses and homes that got flooded and most had to go back out to work from the Thursday. The two day holiday for all that cleanup was not going to cut it. Not even adding in the one Saturday. Let's be real here. We could have benefited greatly with 400 able men working round the clock to get, at least our roads and public schools to re-open as scheduled. A little bit of rain fall and our roads in town become a holy mess. I don't think it had anything to do with laziness. We were offered the help and we should have taken it and worked together with them to clean up this place.
  • public defender (16/08/2017, 10:40) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Did anyone look in to the reason why the Elmore Stoutt High School got flooded so badly?Did the Project Manager/Architect realize that he design swimming pool walls around the school?Swimming Pool walls store's water and the water stays stagnant...The Bright Politicians that is wasting Tax payers money should address that wall situation because if the children are in school and rain comes they will get trapped and it will be disaster..Since that wall was built it changed the draining panterns on the grounds of the school ..Parents should be concerned about the safety of their children and that High School situation is not as simple as those Misleaders talking..
  • crazy (16/08/2017, 10:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'd be more than happy to have 400 free workers come and help me clean up my place. One way to look at this is at $120 a day each, that works out to a savings of $48K a week! Don't look a gift horse in the mouth...
  • Here we go (16/08/2017, 11:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    People there is a time for everything. This is the time to ban together and assist where we can. You think NDP could have control the rain? Let's ban together in times like these and cut out the foolish comments. Some are good questions but let's move forward for the betterment of our territory and children
  • wize up (16/08/2017, 11:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    a student had this to say to me about the navy ship...the student went on to explain;the governor is white: the commissioner is white: the DPP is white: Head of Prision is white: the auditor general is white and over 700 of the naval officers are white(I have no clue what the student was trying to say, so I just went my way)...in the mean time inpersonally think if cash money was being handed over to government by the UK for the relief effort the administration would have seen that as a better gesturer(money over man power)...I am just saying so because I live in free democratic society and have such right: however I know someone in blog-land will allow me to know how foolish I am.....again!!!!! Keep the faith
  • A Parent (16/08/2017, 12:01) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all need to cut out the bull.,?t. Stop the damn blame game. If school is pushed back two more weeks, then so be it. And if there is make up days, which should happen, the kids will have no other choice. As a parent, I would prefer that everything is in order before my child go back to school.


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