Adopt-A-School Raises $150,000 to Date
This afternoon [Feb 24] the Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith hosted a press conference to update on the Adopt-A-School initiative. Organisations being recognised by the Minister included ACL Construction, G&D Body Shop, Security Associates/Bermuda Security Group, TeleBermuda International (TBI) Ltd. and Hunt’s Group of Companies. To date the Adopt-A-School programme has raised $150,000 for repairs and services for several of the Island’s primary schools.
Pictured below [Back row L to R] Idonia Beckles, Greg Swan, Wayne Edwards, Carlton Crockwell, Dame Jennifer Smith, Nelson Hunt, Kevin Bean-Walls. [Front row L to R] Karen Carlington, Sandra Smith, Chris Swan, Dr. S. Durham Thompson, Valerie Williams
Dame Jennifer’s full remarks follow below:
Good afternoon:
I am so pleased to stand before you yet again to announce the progress of our Adopt-A-School initiative (these meetings seem to be becoming a habit).
As you are all aware, the Adopt-a-School initiative was originally designed to encourage construction firms to help our public school facilities.
It has now grown to include any business, organisation, or individual, willing to make an “in kind” donations to our schools.
The initiative allows principals, teachers and students to get on with the job of teaching and learning, without worrying about maintenance and repairs.
Today, we are here to celebrate the adoption of five more schools.
Victor Scott Primary School has been adopted by G & D Body Shop.
Prospect Primary School has been adopted by ACL Construction Ltd.
Mr. Tramaine Smith, Foreman of ACL Construction Ltd. will accept on behalf of Mr. Wendell Gibbons of G&D Body Shop and for Mr. Kevin Bean-Walls of ACL Construction Ltd. [Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Bean-Walls are father and son with separate businesses who have both agreed to assist our schools].
Victor Scott Primary Principal, Valerie Williams and Prospect Primary Principal, Shangri-La Durham-Thompson and are also here representing their schools.
West End Primary School has been adopted by Security Associates/Bermuda Security Group – Mr. Wayne Edwards, Chief Operating Officer for Bermuda Security Group and Mr. Carlton Crockwell, Chief Operating Officer for Security Associates will accept on behalf of President, Mr. Herman Tucker.
West End Primary Prinicpal Ms. Sandra Smith is here to represent her school.
East End Primary School has been adopted by TeleBermuda International – Mr. Gregory Swan – President and Chief Operating Officer& Ms. Karen Carlington – Director of Residential Services will accept on behalf of TeleBermuda International Limited.
East End Primary Principal Ms. Idonia Beckles is here to represent her school.
T. N. Tatem Middle School has been adopted by Hunt’s Group of Companies – Mr. Nelson Hunt will accept on behalf of his company.
Deputy-Principal Mr. Christopher Swan is here for TNT.
These community-minded businesses are already well known to the community, and they deserve our thanks. Their contribution brings the amount committed to school improvement to one hundred and forty-thousand dollars for twelve schools.
And before you ask -Yes – we still have schools in need, so I continue to look forward to adding adopters to our list.
Thank you.
Will someone make some sense out of this for me. This government has spent over $1Billion on public school education since assuming the reigns some 12 years ago and now this! $!BILIION–Not $1million
Why is it a problem with you that Government is seeking help from the community? This is a great thing, please dont try to make it out to be bad. People are donating money to the schools, how is that wrong?
It’s wrong because this “program” is just dressed up begging from the govt. If the PLP had not ruined our finances they would not be doing this.
A Donation and a helping hand is a very good thing. “Adoption” maybe not the right term to be used in this Program. Adoption usually means for life, how attached are these people or parents going to get with these schools. later on when these Parents find out who the real Guardians are, what will happen? the Minister is going to open up a whole new can of worms. Maybe new boards will have be opened up, or maybe the adoptive Parents could receive a refund.
I can explain it to you…INCOMPETENCE!!!AND ALL YOU LOT ALLOW IT!!!!!SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont understand what you all are complaining about. The government has gotten assistance from the public to fund the repairs and up keep of the schools that are adopted. What dont you understand!!!!
Thank you. I really hope we are not the only ones that see this as a good thing.
I agree, what everyone is failing to understand is that its not just money they are talking about, it is services as well. The majority of these companies can provide services that normally would costs thousands of dollars had the Government put them out to tender. Principals have always asked for assistance for things that were normally outside of their budget however now they have companies prepared to assist and provide better environments for our students. It is no different than private schools raising money for pools,gyms and reduced costs for services to provide good learning environments their students. Remember these companies don’t have to adopt a school but they obviously see a need to give back.
*Bangs my head against the wall*
What is there NOT to get ?
Let’s switch things around a bit … What if we were being encouraged to ‘sponsor’ the maintenance of a bus or ferry ?
These things are already paid for with dollars that are taken from us as taxes.
They are maintained with, and the services they provide come from our taxes that are already paid !
If this great and competant government that we have hadn’t overtaxed us and pi$$ed the money away over the last 12 years we wouldn’t be in this situation where private enterprise has to adopt a school. Did we ever have/need such a thing in ‘the bad old days’ of the UBP ? ?
I have nothing against a group of individuals volunteering to maybe do a bit of painting of other sprucing up of their child’s school but this looks like another case of ‘what’s in it for me if I help you out’ .
Seriously– Over $1billion later and you aren’t just a little angry that the education system is in such a mess.
Wow!
It’s not a complaint, it’s reality–we F’d up over $1Billion and you folks are ok with that. It’s great that these companies have chipped in $150k BUT ONCE again folks this government has blown over $1billion dollars and the public education system is in a mess and apparently that includes the physical plants. $%&^&^^%$#@@#$%^