PHILIPSBURG–The issues with the air conditioning units that were installed in the pavilions being used by the Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA) have been rectified, Education Minister Silveira Jacobs said on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers weekly press briefing.
The air conditioning units that accompanied the pavilions, which were sent from the Netherlands, were not compatible with the grid of utilities company GEBE and an alternative method had to be sought out to ensure that the pavilions would be cooled by airco units for classes to be held.
Air conditioning units were subsequently purchased locally for the pavilion. The Education Ministry, GEBE and VROMI worked to rectify the issues resulting with the breakers continuously tripping when the aircos are switched on.
Jacobs said on Tuesday, after several days of consultation with CBA, the aicos are now functioning properly and students can continue with their classes without being disturbed.
Jacobs said authorities have gone “over and beyond” to ensure that CBA has accommodation. The school was previously housed in the old Government Administration Building, which was destroyed by hurricane Irma. She underscored the importance of open dialogue to address such challenges. The minister said she thought the situation had been resolved at the school and had not received information on the most recent setbacks prior to the reopening of school until she read about it in this newspaper. She expressed hope that schools have open dialogue with the Ministry on challenges they face, so that the Ministry can assist.
CBA official Claudette Forsythe-Labega had outlined some of the challenges the school faced last week. Amongst the issues raised were the problematic aircos which would trip the breakers each time they were switched on.
Other challenges were the fact that CBA had been storing items in the pavilion that had to be relocated for classes to resume on Monday; the size of the pavilion, which can safely house about 90 persons at one time, while CBA has 135 students and 18 members of staff; the fact that the school had no Internet service to facilitate office administration, communication with parents and other stakeholders and the constantly burning dump which affects students and teachers particularly those with respiratory issues.
The pavilion was one of several sent from the Netherlands as part of the hurricane relief items. The pavilions came equipped with tables and chairs.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/72643-issue-with-aircos-at-cba-rectified
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