LOGWOOD, Hanover — Teachers and students at the Logwood Basic School in Hanover are celebrating the construction of additional classroom space, which was funded at a cost of $4 million by Member of Parliament for Hanover Western Ian Hayles’ Constituency Development Fund and the Hanover Charities.

Hayles contributed $1.4 million, while Hanover Charities contributed the remainder for the construction of the building, which commenced in October 2016.

An elated Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) President Rushelle Pearce commended the donors for the well-needed building which she said will contribute to the overall development of students in a much more comfortable environment.

“We congratulate our MP Mr Hayles, Mrs Casserly (chairperson of Hanover Charities) and Mrs Smith (principal) and her dedicated team for making this a reality,” said Pearce, while bringing greetings on behalf of the PTA at the recent official opening ceremony.

“I am confident that the additional classroom will provide a more comfortable environment for staff and students as the children will continue to be excellent, and as the Logwood Basic School continues to blaze a trail going forward,” Pearce added.

Casserly said her organisation decided to get involved in the project following meetings with the principal of the school and having looked at the building, which at that time had some 114 enrolled students who were packed into one classroom space partitioned into two.

According to Casserly, the situation had reached a stage where the school had to utilise the nearby community centre, which she noted was not conducive to learning.

She said that Hayles also approached her, saying he was in need of a partner to assist in expanding the school.

“We (Hanover Charities) said we will assist Hayles with a building. But when we came to look at the site, we also realised that the principal had to use the community centre for additional classroom space. So every time the community had an event, they had to move out of the classroom, pile everything up in another building, and then build everything back up the next morning,” Casserly explained.

And Hayles, who has committed another $1 million to the school, said that based on information he has received from the principal, there is more work to be done.

“So I asked Mrs Smith the same question I asked last year… what is outstanding? She said some bathrooms are outstanding, the partition is outstanding, and a little office to do the clerical work within the school. So this year again I am committing another $1 million to put on the bathrooms, and Mrs Casserly, once again say that Hanover Charities will be partnering with me so that we can complete what we have started here in this location,” disclosed Hayles.

Casserly said Hanover Charities expects to undertake five more projects at schools — St Simon, Askenish, Pell River Primary, Cove Primary and Mount Hannah — in the parish in the near future, which will include the establishment of computer laboratories.

“Education is key for us. And when you can start at the basic school level, it will eventually make a dent in society, and for the betterment of the society, we hope,” Casserly argued.