KINGSTON, Jamaica — ARC Group will be leading an initiative to rebuild the roofs of four of the six blocks at the Bull Savannah Primary & Infant School in St Elizabeth, which were destroyed by Hurricane Beryl.

The Group said it will execute repairs in other areas of the compound which is the alma mater of the group’s Chairman Norman Horne.

The repairs will be executed with a budget of $25 million.

The plan has been officially accepted by the school board, which has appointed Horne to lead a nine-member restoration committee aimed at reconstructing the institution to a workable space in time for the next school year.

The committee will comprise school administrators, Parent-Teacher Association representatives, ARC team members and other community stakeholders.

The group said reconstruction work has already begun and is expected to be completed before start of the new school term.

“The restoration programme will include extensive clean-up of the grounds to remove debris from the storm.  In addition to installing new roofs, we will be putting in storm-proof windows and painting the damaged buildings,” Horne shared.

“We also plan to put in a football field and netball court, as we know how important physical activities are to a student’s well-being and to create balance with the academic programmes,” he continued.

ARC said it also plans to donate back-to-school school supplies for the nearly 600 students at the school.

Horne said he felt compelled to urgently respond to the devastation of the institution caused by Hurricane Beryl primarily because of his family’s connection to the community and the school which provided education for generations of the Horne family who have lived in the area.

The tarpaulin, which covers the majority of the building that houses the grade six classrooms and the debris, including blown down zinc sheets and tree branches, provide a glimpse of the extent of the damage to one of four buildings at the school. (Photo contributed)

“The school is as part of my family as my siblings and the home where I grew up; right here in Bull Savannah. My grandmother, my mother, my siblings and I all got our start at this school. Ensuring that the school is repaired and up and running in time for the start of the new school year is a top priority for us at ARC and indeed the committee working on the restoration process,” the executive chairman explained.

Principal of the school, Colin Cameron said he was appreciative of the assistance over the years of past students of the school, including Horne and, in particular, the significant gesture to lead the charge to rebuild the institution.

He explained that there was extensive damage to the roof of each block impacted, as well as to the canteen and guidance counsellor’s room, with the hurricane causing flooding of all classrooms and damage to books which were stored for the coming school year.  In addition, the electrical system will need to be rewired and the internet system restored, he said.

“I inherited a legacy of academic achievements among our students and for the past 10 years since I have been principal the school has continued to do well.  With the assistance promised, we are hoping to have a smooth start to the new year,” Cameron said.