SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Some parents and at least one cabbie, whose vehicle is being repaired, are happy the start of the new school year has been pushed back for a number of schools in Westmoreland. They are hoping the extra time will be enough to put final preparations in place.

“I’m not ready,” said single parent Jodi-anne Blackwood.

She works with a tour company in Negril and has a daughter in school.

“It’s slow season in the tourism industry for most places, so I’m kinda set back. I haven’t paid her school fee yet,” Blackwood explained.

There are many others struggling to cope with back-to-school expenses and the extra time has provided a bit of breathing space.

Manning’s School is among those that will be doing online classes for the first few weeks, staggering admissions by class as the repairs progress. Petersfield High, Frome Technical High, Godfrey Stewart High, and Belmont High School will be doing orientation this week with some of their students officially returning to school on September 9.

Among the parents hoping to use the time wisely is Tashka Campbell. Her daughter is now in grade six at Petersfield Primary and Infant School and she needs financial assistance to buy her textbooks. Campbell explained that she gets paid based on the hours worked, her hours were reduced and the impact of Hurricane Beryl caused her to dip into savings she had set aside for back-to-school.

“I got her everything else. Just the textbooks I need to get,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Campbell is hoping someone will lend a helping hand before her daughter needs to use the books.

John Daley is also keeping his fingers crossed, but for a different reason. He is hoping his taxi will be back on the road soon.

“Mi glad say we get one more week,” he told the Observer. “My car deh a garage from Tuesday.”

Daley complained of the terrible state of the Savanna-la-Mar to Grange Hill route which he plies.

“Every minute is a next pothole. Every minute mi need parts. Wheel buss, front end, something always happen. And me is not a man weh drive fast like di rest a dem. Mi tek mi time. But di road just too bad,” he insisted.

Daley is hoping he will be able to capitalise on the delayed back-to-school rush.

Some are already feeling the benefit, even though not all schools have resumed operations. On Monday there was a noticeable increase in traffic and roadside vendors were back at work.

“Bwoy mi always glad when school start back innuh,” said Donna Clarke who sells on Beckford Street in Savanna-la-Mar.

“A my hustle dis and my family haffi eat. A dis send my grandpickney dem back-to-school,” she told the Observer.

Others are giving thanks that they have a support system that has come to their rescue.

“I would be ungrateful if I said it was difficult,” stated Lorraine Johnson whose son Chadroy Smith Jr is entering grade five.

“His grandmother and my sister helped with his back-to-school preparation,” said a grateful Johnson.

She explained that her only concern is getting her son mentally prepared to take on the year and focus on his studies.

Sheila Foster is also grateful for the support she received; however, she expects that it will be a rough year for her and her husband. They now have two children in high school and one about to sit the Caribbean Examination Council examinations.