BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — Principal of Black River High Christopher Romans says focus will have to be placed on ensuring the rebuilding of schools, damaged by Hurricane Beryl, are done to ensure hurricane-resistance.

“As we rebuild we have to ensure that whatever structure we put in place, it can withstand hurricanes as best as possible, so we have to look at it from that standpoint. We may have to look at putting a different kind of roofing,” he told the Jamaica Observer in an interview.

Romans, whose institution has a population of 1,605 students, said one building at the school has extensive damage.

“The entire roof is gone and a section of the adjoining classroom is also gone. This room housed about 40 students in grade 11,” he said.

Two weeks ago Romans told the Observer that he was optimistic repairs would be done in time for the new academic year in September.

“It has to be accomplished, and the repairs have to be done before the start of school as it [failure to complete repairs] means that several students will be dislocated, particularly our exam group. We are quite hopeful that repairs will be done,” he said.

Last Friday, Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams announced that while her aim is to have the 85 public schools that were badly damaged by Hurricane Beryl refurbished for the beginning of the new school year on September 2, there are no guarantees.

“We are going to give it our all in terms of the severely damaged schools. Will we be 100 per cent ready? I am not going to stand here and say that because you heard the numbers, but I am pleased with the efforts so far in terms of engaging contractors and impressing on them the urgency of this,” Minister Williams told the Observer last week during a press conference at the ministry’s Heroes’ Circle offices in Kingston.

On Monday, Romans said his school is not on the Ministry of Education’s priority list for repairs.

“We wouldn’t be on the priority list of schools because our damage is minor in comparison to others. We were visited by our building officer and he gave us the assurance that the repairs will be made,” he said, adding that the school is examining the possibility of footing the repair bill.

“Just as they are saying to other schools they can’t guarantee that it will be done just in time for school, we are putting our plans in place just in case we need to do repairs on our own. We don’t want to be left high and dry. We internally have done our own assessment and should be getting a costing, so that is where we are at,” he added.

With families in southern St Elizabeth still reeling from the devastation caused by the Category 4 storm, Romans said back-to-school preparations will be even more difficult.

“The teachers and students from the southern side have reported damage to their homes. They have damage to their homes and farms as a lot of people on the south side are farmers — so it is not just the houses it is their livelihood. When a crop is damaged, that could be another three months [in setbacks],” he said.

“Some of those families, to prepare for back to school it is going to be a real challenge for them. We have to see how best as a community, as a school, we can assist those persons,” he added.