Jeane Russell recalls walking as many as six miles from home during the 1980s to attend classes at Hayes Primary and Infant School in Clarendon. Some students there still find it difficult making it to school on time.

In April, Russell donated a 2018 Toyota Hiace bus to her alma mater. The South Florida-based entrepreneur told Observer Online that it took her fundraising team two years to purchase and ship the vehicle, which was handed over at the school.

“This project has been in the works for quite some time. With planning, fundraising and overcoming hurdles, shipping the bus wasn’t easy but every obstacle was worth it. It means a lot to the children and the school,” said Russell.

It is her latest gesture to the school which has been her charity for over 30 years.

Georgia Bissoon, acting vice principal at Hayes Primary and Infant School, welcomed the gift.

“We have never had a school bus. Transporting children to various extracurricular events or field trips was difficult and expensive. The acquisition of this bus means a lot for the students, who will benefit greatly when the need arises for them to represent their school at events,” she said. “There are a number of students in the community environs who are consistently late because they have to walk a couple of miles to get to school. Having this bus will mean that we can assist in getting some of these children to school on time.”

In February, as part of its rural transport service, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) expanded its schedule to parts of northern Clarendon. The buses are primarily used to transport students to schools in May Pen, Lionel Town, Toll Gate and Garvey Maceo.

The Hayes Primary and Infant School has been in existence for over 100 years. It has approximately 527 students.

– Howard Campbell