GAYLE, ST MARY — With classrooms swept and the school yard cut, administrators at Gayle Primary and Infant School are anticipating a smooth reopening as all the necessary preparations were put in place early to facilitate a smooth transition for the new academic year.

Despite the school being used as a polling station for Wednesday’s election, Principal David Taylor said his staff is ready to welcome the new and returning students.

“We are well on our way with our back-to-school preparations. We have already had our staff meetings and just completed a few touches,” Taylor told the Jamaica Observer.

He noted that the only short-term challenge he foresees would be the absence of water during the term, because of the dry conditions.

“We are experiencing a drought, and we might have a little water challenge. We have water in storage that is not for drinking; it is used in the bathrooms, kitchen, and to wash hands,” Taylor said. “In the event where the National Water Commission does not deliver [potable water], parents would [have to] give students water for drinking.”

Commenting that the school has its full staff complement who are raring to go, the principal, however, pointed out that they have seen a decline in the school’s population both at the infant and primary levels.

“Where we used to see a school population of 400 and 500, we are now seeing 200,” he said.

The educator said he is also lobbying for new buildings. For him the 65-year-old buildings have outlived their usage, and like other schools across the island, the institution has a termite problem.

“Thankfully, the ministry [of education] has come to address this,” Taylor said. “[But] the buildings are old and dilapidated and have outlived their time.”

He said a new building will be his top lobby priority to the new Administration — “when I speak of new building, I mean the demolishing of the old ones and constructing a new one to fit the needs of the school population”.

The St Mary school is 65 years old. Ingrid Henry