BUNKERS HILL, Trelawny — Things got off to a smooth start at Falmouth All-Age School in Trelawny on Monday but it was clear that the scorching heat was of great concern.

Principal Kirk Spencer told journalists that parents have offered to donate fans to the school.

As he spoke Spencer sweated profusely. In his office, he pointed to an empty slot from where he had removed his fan. It was placed in a classroom.

“I believe it is better I endure the heat than the students, but we are doing what we can do,” the principal said.

Before the news team left the compound De-yen Smith, a parent who has two children attending the school, turned up with two of four fans he was donating.

“Myself and my wife, Shona-kay Smith, are donating the fans. We have been to the school and we noticed that the class is hot so these are two of four of the fans,” Smith said.

“However, the only problem we are having is [an] electrical problem. We plan to donate some electrical wires, and he [Spencer] has an electrician that can do the work, but for now we are just alleviating the heat in the classroom,” Smith noted, adding that his wife’s grandfather is a past principal of the school.

Acting principal of Hague Primary and Infant School Everaldo Bennett is hoping they will also benefit from similar largess. The heat is a major challenge there as well.

“If there is any institution out there that wants to help us with fans, we will greatly appreciate them. As I have said to the parents during orientation last week: This is the hottest summer recorded and we know it is still hot so whatever we can do to make the children learn and make the environment more conducive to learning, we will greatly appreciate any assistance as it relates to that,” he said.

“We must have the students’ interest at heart… They are the nation’s future so we must care for them as much as we can,” Bennett added.

Some parents’ verbal promises to donate fans have so far not borne fruit, he said.

In terms of staff, Falmouth All-Age had its full complement while Hague Primary and Infant School began the academic year with four vacancies, three in the primary department and one at the infant school.

Regional director for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s Region Three, Karlene Segre said most schools in the region got off to a smooth start. Region Three includes the parishes of St Ann and Trelawny.

“[A total of] 121 schools have reopened. Leadership is in place in all of my schools,” she said, adding that most vacancies had been filled.

“A few schools had resignations on Friday, and even this [Monday] morning, and in those instances the principals will be trying to fill those, but generally we are off to a smooth start for the term,” Segre said.