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UPDATE: Isabella Morris students relocated despite parents' concerns

Students of the Isabella Morris Primary School have now been relocated to the Cane Garden Bay Community despite concerns expressed by parents that the suitability of the new facility was not agreed upon. Photo: VINO
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.' Photo: VINO
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.' Photo: VINO
Students settling into their respective classes at the Cane Garden Bay Community Center. Photo: VINO
Students settling into their respective classes at the Cane Garden Bay Community Center. Photo: VINO
Students settling into their respective classes at the Cane Garden Bay Community Center. Photo: VINO
Students settling into their respective classes at the Cane Garden Bay Community Center. Photo: VINO
Students settling into their respective classes at the Cane Garden Bay Community Center. Photo: VINO
Students settling into their respective classes at the Cane Garden Bay Community Center. Photo: VINO
The Isabella Morris Primary School building in Carrot Bay has now been closed. Photo: VINO
The Isabella Morris Primary School building in Carrot Bay has now been closed. Photo: VINO
Parents of students of the Isabella Morris Primary School feel the Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn has betrayed them by not informing them of the safety and health conditions of the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre before announcing a decision, via Government Information Service GIS), to have the students relocated. Photo: VINO/File
Parents of students of the Isabella Morris Primary School feel the Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn has betrayed them by not informing them of the safety and health conditions of the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre before announcing a decision, via Government Information Service GIS), to have the students relocated. Photo: VINO/File
A number of parents of students of the Isabella Morris Primary School had expressed their frustration at the way Government was allegedly handling the issue of mould at the Isabella Morris Primary School. Photo: VINO/File
A number of parents of students of the Isabella Morris Primary School had expressed their frustration at the way Government was allegedly handling the issue of mould at the Isabella Morris Primary School. Photo: VINO/File
CANE GARDEN BAY, Tortola, VI – Despite troubling reports made earlier about the relocation of Isabella Morris Primary School students to a new location, the students and teachers have since been settled at the Cane Garden Bay Community Centre today, May 13, 2013.

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.

32 Responses to “UPDATE: Isabella Morris students relocated despite parents' concerns”

  • cnn (12/05/2013, 09:31) Like (12) Dislike (56) Reply
    See he aint got time to deal wid deeds matters but got time to criticized vino…can’t waint to vote he out next time
    • wise up (12/05/2013, 10:24) Like (8) Dislike (39) Reply
      to cnn; i agree with you 1000%...he needs to focus on his subject matter and stop trying to be the media-police(he will be running to them come 2015)
    • Mick Mars (13/05/2013, 07:07) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      You gah time to re-read your sentence and make sure you ain't making any glaring mistakes due to your poor spelling skills?
      • billyb (13/05/2013, 13:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Mick Mars, when are you people going to realize that this is how this fool choses to spell these. Leave the idiot alone
    • Realist (13/05/2013, 23:02) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      You alone will vote him out?
  • critic (12/05/2013, 09:57) Like (5) Dislike (44) Reply
    Is this man laughing at the parents?
  • . (12/05/2013, 10:00) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Will the kids be getting a free lunch??
  • DYME DIVA (12/05/2013, 10:02) Like (6) Dislike (49) Reply
    HA HA HA! MR MINISTER YOU AINT SHAME, YOU HERE TRYING TAKE FOOD OUTTA VINO MOUTH WITH YOUR BASHING NONSENSE WHY YOU DONTT GO FIX THE DAMN SCHOOL THEM IN THE BVI FROM SPREADING PROPAGANDA
  • MW (12/05/2013, 10:22) Like (11) Dislike (27) Reply
    I will not fix anything in education I have to use my time to blog about vino and censor them he hee hee
  • Windy (12/05/2013, 11:07) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
    He's just saying and doing what his public relations people are instucting him to do. Wearing his $ 96,000.00 smile at tax payers expense. How is it that a minister can go out and hire a P R comsultant for themself and charge the tax payers for it ? Disgusting ! HELP US LONDON
    • To Windy (12/05/2013, 12:01) Like (5) Dislike (10) Reply
      I agree. Myron is about the show. He promised The parents one that thing & still do a next. Myron is the head & in a crisis such as this he must take on a leadership role. Obviously he isnt a good leader.
  • Confucius (12/05/2013, 11:21) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hoe does an article about upset parents and a school with mould turn into comments about Vino and media police.

    Pathetic!
    • ----------------- (12/05/2013, 12:46) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
      myron stop blogging about your self it does not look good...let the $96 g girl deal with it
  • Ah saw (12/05/2013, 12:14) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We now find out that Myron lying because he did know about this mould long before th NDP on the road meeting in Carrot Bay. This is totally disrespectful. I find Myron is an impressionist. He cares about power not people. I don't hate him but this minister thing isn't for him.
  • what a thing (12/05/2013, 12:20) Like (2) Dislike (21) Reply
    Myron is handling this matter very sloppy. From February this problem came to light & up to now he nor his education officials have not acted professionally. I will remember this rude act straight into & beyond elections because people's children both students & teachers health has & is being treated with no respect.
  • carrot bay man (12/05/2013, 12:24) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am watching Myron & his gang with eagle's eyes because if they think that their secret plans to close down our IMPS forever going to work they better think again. I am going to fight that even if it is me alone.
  • Well (12/05/2013, 12:27) Like (2) Dislike (25) Reply
    This problem don't have big money in it so the minister doesn't care. He is only making it look like he cares.
  • carrot bay soldier (12/05/2013, 15:02) Like (5) Dislike (26) Reply
    Dr Smith is a docter Dr pickering is a docter Dr ronnie health minister they should able to give advise to the resturant manager about health issues relating to mould but he is taking advise from a supermarket owner who knows nothing aboutmould
    shame on this set of cabinet men it really sures no unity amongs them
  • Vamp (12/05/2013, 15:28) Like (5) Dislike (11) Reply
    But he told the HOA that he found the problem and it’s been fixed…check is statement to the house on mould…was he untruthful?
  • ELLSA (12/05/2013, 15:47) Like (2) Dislike (17) Reply
    THESE PARENTS SOME OF THEM ARE JUST OUT RIGHT DUMB. I WAS THERE YOU CAN NOT BE IN A MOULD BUILDING REGARDLESS...........................YOU WOULD GET SICK SOONER OR LATER COMMON SENSE COULD OF TELL THESE PERSONS.

    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.
    • Jah knows (12/05/2013, 19:29) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
      God knows I pressed 'like' on this DUMB comment twice, by mistake. I'm trying to figure out which part of this DUMB analysis I should tackle first. None of it makes sense but I'll make an attempt. My friend, parents were never disputing the fact that the kids should NOT be in that school, which is obviously a hazard to their health. But there are so many other dynamics to this situation that you could never imagine or understand. As a matter of fact, maybe I shouldn't try to explain anything to you because, judging by the way your opinion was written, you would be too DUMB to grasp the big picture.
    • @ Ellsa (14/05/2013, 10:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

      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..

  • doc (12/05/2013, 21:24) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    i was at the meeting with the ministers when they had on the road meeting and i heard the minister for education mention that someone had told him and he has already dealing with it. so when he is now telling people that the first time he heard of it was at the meeting of on the road he darm lie/untruth. if he don't know the CGB center has mold also and it would be even worse for i did an inspection at that building and from time you open the door the mold wants to kill you before you get inside. mr. minister will you stop playing politics with human lives. if that is what you are trying to do i will tell you don't for if so don't set foot in the area of carrot bay for you won't like it. not even if you want to campaing in the future. you are truly a disgrace to politics.
    • ice cream (13/05/2013, 15:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      If we keep doing the same thing over and over........do you really think the results will be different !!
  • come (13/05/2013, 12:44) Like (3) Dislike (12) Reply
    MYRON is BAD for THAT MINSITRY.

    The NDP politicians are bad for ALL AH WE

  • parent of two children (13/05/2013, 13:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    All bull-sh_t promises from Myron!!

    • $96,000 (13/05/2013, 23:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply

      listen out for some half @$$ bake statement in the house of assembly saying nothingness

  • @@@@@ (13/05/2013, 17:08) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope parents and teachers have very good memory


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