Underhill promises ‘adequate’ space

Principal at Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) Sandy Underhill said the additional classrooms that Government is building at her school should be able to adequately accommodate a projected 10 percent increase in the school’s population in September.

“Our school is currently under construction. Two buildings are being erected and are estimated to finish around mid-August. Each building will accommodate 14 classrooms, [making it] a total of 28 new classrooms.”

“This will adequately provide for the required space to accommodate 12 Grade and the 10 percent projected increase in enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year.”

“In addition, plans are underway for continued infrastructural development that will provide much-needed additional facilities for the school,” Underhill said during the ESHS graduation on June 22.

In the meantime, education minister Myron Walwyn, who also spoke at the graduation ceremony, promised that the school facilities will be more conducive to learning.

“While we continue to improve the education system, you will see that the Government of the Virgin Islands is taking great steps to improve the physical plant at the ESHS. We expect that works will start to further develop the junior and senior campuses,” he said.

“We intend for work to commence later this year to build a structure that will house the auditorium, the cafeteria, the gym, staff offices, conference facilities, etcetera. There will also be extensive upgrades to our science labs, and our technical labs. As you can see, we are currently constructing new classrooms as well. We will ensure that our students have an environment that is totally conducive to learning,” added Walwyn.