Health and safety concerns tied to the deconstruction of the old gymnasium on the campus of R.M. Bailey High School have marred the beginning of the new school year for students and teachers, according to the school's principal Theophilus Claridge.
Claridge revealed that students and teachers will get to enjoy an extra two days of summer vacation, after the Ministry of Education decided that it was unsafe for students to return to the school while the gymnasium is being torn down.
He added that one of the major concerns of teachers and the Bahamas Union of Teachers was the presence of possible fiberglass in the air.
"The union and teachers also had concerns with the possibility of health hazards," Claridge said.
"For example you have the fiberglass insulation.  Fiberglass is airborne and persons were concerned that it might have affected them in some way, and that's why the government made the decision today (Thursday) to have health officials on campus, who met with staff members and set up testing, to make sure that there is nothing untoward with staff and make sure that their health is in top shape."
He said the presence of heavy equipment used in the deconstruction process also created a hazard for the student population.  He cited it as another major reason for closing the school until the gymnasium has been completely dismantled.
"To take it down we have heavy vehicles coming in at this time carting off material, and we want to make sure that everyone is safe," Claridge said.
The reason he gave for the gymnasium not being deconstructed before the start of school was the delay caused by the weather.
"Part of the reason we're where we're at today is we had Hurricane Irene that came after we began work," said Claridge.  "We also had the afternoon and the morning heavy rains and thunderstorms and they could not work the building because of the weather," he said.  "So we had to postpone and that kind of delayed them."
Claridge said contractors have promised that the work on the school's gymnasium will be completed by Monday morning, when students and teachers are expected to return to the school.
Tearing down the school's gymnasium is a part of a redevelopment plan, currently in its early stages, for R.M. Bailey High School, he said.
He added that the Ministry of Education determined eight years ago that the gymnasium should be torn down after a fire broke out in the facility.
 

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian