ISLINGTON, St Mary — The school could use the money as a section of the roof is damaged and food prices have gone up, but the principal of Water Valley Primary School in Islington, Hyacinth Gayle, is determined not to increase the cost of her students’ lunch.

“The parents just cannot afford it. Currently the lunch cost is $250 for non-PATH [Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education] students and $50 for PATH students,” Gayle told the Jamaica Observer.

Despite these and other challenges, the optimistic educator said the new school term is going relatively well. In addition to the damage Hurricane Beryl did to the roof of the pavilion where they have lunch, Gayle said there is the perennial problem of termites, and the school still needs a perimeter fence. She is hoping the latter will be addressed soon, but she is not overly optimistic as the need has gone unmet for so long.

“We have started a process where our proposal has been sent in to JSIF [Jamaica Social Investment Fund] and nothing more has been said, and this is over two years,” the principal said.

Like Water Valley Primary, termites are also a problem at Horace Clarke High School.

“Like any infrastructure we have the need for termite treatment, replacing some sections of the classrooms made by ply,” said acting Principal Milton Mathews.

“We look forward to seeing what fruit will bear from the ongoing intervention of the Government and Ministry of Education,” he added.

The school was also spared the brunt of the hurricane’s force but, like many others, has a challenge replacing teachers that have left. They are also awaiting a new principal.

In contrast, Oracabessa Primary School has no major issues.

“We have everything in place in regards to the new school term: furniture, full teacher complement. So far we are on target, it’s just for us to be mentally prepared,” Principal Winsome McFarlane Forbes said.

The same sentiment was shared by principal of St Mary Technical in Richmond, Orville Richards, who said they too are ready for the new school term.

However, at Gospel Chapel Preparatory School, Principal Lascine Lazarus worried that the new school term will be challenging.

“We lost a section of the roof that covers a section of two classrooms and the bursar office. Thieves also took our 400-gallon tank that we had secured for the passage of the hurricane, they took it and set us back,” she said.

School administrators are hoping to get some help from the parent teachers association and fund-raising efforts.

“We are a private school so funding is not forthcoming like the public schools. However, at this time we are seeking any assistance we can get to help with the roofing and any other things that is needed,” appealed Lazarus.