REPAIRED buildings with freshly painted walls, new furniture and a newly inscribed school motto were just a few of the noticeable changes that were observed at Charlie Smith High School when the Jamaica Observer visited the instituion recently.

The school, which was recently the centre of controversy, opened its gates to students a week after the expected September 14 start date. The delay was on account of incomplete repairs arising from the merger with Trench Town High School, located less than five minutes away.

The Ministry of Education took the decision to merge the two last year when both institutions were identified among schools that were at once underpopulated and underperforming. It was a bid to reduce the costs associated with maintaining both institutions, both sited in the St Andrew Southern constituency, as well as to put systems in place that would improve academic performance.

The decision was met with protest from community members, students and parents from the surrounding communities, but after several meetings and rounds of negotiations they surrendered to the proposal, which also included the conversion of Trench Town High to a polytechnic institution.

Principal Garth Gayle and community members view the move as a symbol of renewed hope and an avenue for strength through unity. Gayle told the Jamaica Observer that he is heartened by the attitude of students as they first stroll through the gate for classes.

“At the get-go the students were animated because they want to come to school. The renovated school along with the tablets in school programme have caught their attention and they yearn to be associated with the institution,” Gayle explained.

For his part, Gayle said that he and his staff are committed to ensuring that student’s interest does not expire. While admitting that the merger presents a number of challenges and has been difficult to accept, the staff remains committed to the task, he said.

“I am very positive about the transition; it was necessary and is a learning process because I have never done it (a merged institution) before, but I am learning. I continue to learn on a daily basis and so I will use all the best practices, while collaborating with colleague principals, ministry officials and the steering committee, to ensure that I am always in the best position to serve the students,” he underscored.

Even though the institution has not yet seen the full complement of students based on its total capacity, the current population is 1,020, with an average of 35 students per class. Interestingly, male students represent the majority of the population, something that the schools have not seen in over seven years.

Gayle pointed out that the staff, with the aid of community members and representatives from the Ministry of Education, have put a number of programmes have been put in motion to adequately manage and assist the students’ focus, including the assigning of literacy specialists.

“In an effort to build the morale of staff and students, a number programmes have been designed. The literacy development, curriculum changes and disciplinary programmes will be introduced… In fact, there are a number of them already on the way.

“We are working with various entities within the ministry to improve the curriculum [by] putting in programmes that will bring about positive and successful results in CSEC [Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate],” Gayle noted.

The principal said that the school jumped 13 places in this year’s CSEC rankings. It is a development which Gayle believes will also positviely impact the students’ morale.

“There is a group of staff members that have been working in a conscientious way since last year to inform students about deportment, discipline and attitude to work. We have a clear vision on where we want to go and where we want to see the school, and as we go along, the changes will be seen,” he declared.

The guidance counsellor’s assistance will also be significant for students who behave poorly to mask other challenges that they may be experiencing.

“It is not difficult to win the hearts and minds of the students; even though you may observe an unsettled upper school, we will continue to be resolute and determine to bring about a change at the institution. We are committed to helping these students so that they can be proud of themselves and we can be proud of them,” the principal reiterated.