WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Roofless classrooms and broken furniture will be the order of the day for many schools in the Hurricane Melissa-battered parish as classes resume today.

While some schools have been able to identify spaces which they have repurposed into classrooms, several others will introduce unique shift systems to ensure that no student is left behind.

Among them is Savanna-la-Mar Primary School where Principal Megan Berry told the Jamaica Observer that the school lost nine classrooms when Melissa struck on October 28.

Berry said while some teaching and learning resumed in November, the school was only to facilitate grades four, five, and six.

“We are ready to accept the full complement, but we had to be creative in doing so,” said Berry as she looked towards the start of the new school term today.

“Because we have not had any repairs done as yet, it’s a matter of creativity and utilising other spaces that are there for other purposes. The computer lab, library, and the multi-purpose hall are now classrooms,” added Berry.

She pointed out that like several other schools in Westmoreland, Savanna-la-Mar Primary lost furniture and learning aids when Melissa unleashed her fury on Jamaica.

“Our situation is indeed bad, in terms of infrastructure,” declared Berry.

It is a similar story at Mount Airy Primary and Infant School — located in the hills of Negril — which lost some 80 per cent of its roof to the winds associated with the Category 5 storm.

While repairs have started, the school will not be back to usual standard any time soon, as some structures are so badly damaged that they will have to be rebuilt.

Last November the school reopened to accommodate students in grades four to six, but this morning it should be a full turnout.

With a population of just over 520 students, fewer classrooms and limited furniture will make full attendance a challenge and the school has announced that a shift system will have to be implemented.

“Starting January grade six will come in Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm; grades four and five, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm, [while] the infant department to grade three will come on Thursdays and Fridays regular time,” Lelieth Murdock, guidance counsellor at the school told the Observer.

“We want to make sure that every child is impacted in terms of learning loss not being so severe. We are trying to cater to everybody, even for two or three days per week,” added Murdock.

At the deep rural Williamsfield Primary and Infant School, which was ravaged by Melissa, administrators have decided to use tarpaulin to cover the buildings, a common site now in Westmoreland.

“It’s not back together as yet, but we are just trying to work as best as possible to see how best we can assist our children,” said Principal Shawn Clarke.

“We really need assistance with repairs and furniture and other items,” added Clarke as she pointed out that the school lost text books, learning aids, whiteboards, blackboards, student furniture, teacher’s desks, electrical wiring, and roofs during the storm.

According to Clarke, the school will resume on a shift system to ensure that no student is left behind.

Meanwhile, chairman of the board of Little London Primary School Ian Myles told the Observer that with electricity restored last week, the school, which suffered little damage during Melissa, will reopen to accommodate its full complement of students this morning.

Williamsfield Primary and Infant School with its damaged roof and destroyed furniture and teaching aids following Hurricane Melissa.