TN Tatem Middle School Closed Again Today
T.N. Tatem Middle School will be closed again today, the Ministry has confirmed, adding that they have “created a plan for a temporary relocation of students and staff while the Ministry carries out cleaning and abatement of any mould issues.”
The issues surrounding the condition of the TN Tatem Middle School building have been ongoing; on Monday the school was closed as teachers did not report to work, on Thursday the Bermuda Union of Teachers held a press briefing to address the matter, and on Friday the school was closed again students and staff showed up at school but did not enter the building.
Students and teachers outside the school on Friday:
In a message sent out to parents last night, the PTA said, “I would like to apologize to all parents for the late notice of this announcement as we were working feverishly to secure an alternative for our children and staff in the interim; but so far we have been unsuccessful, hence the request to keep students home.
“We maintain that this is the responsibility of the Ministry to provide a safe and healthy environment for our children and staff. We will continue looking for an option in the next few days. We are asking for your support also in calling the Ministry and demand that they find a healthy alternative until all repairs are made.
“We think the best way forward is to close the school as of December 5th, 2016, which means the students will remain at home. The teachers will still go to work as per usual, but will not enter the building as it is unfit and unsafe for them despite the outcome of the Ministry of Educations report.
“Allowing your children to remain home only permits the loss of two weeks worth of learning. The benefit will be to give MOED ample time to work towards the completion of their tasks.
“The teachers will prepare their lesson plans so that students may be engaged in their work and not fall behind during this very necessary project. The PTA of T.N. Tatem thanks you and appreciates your support and dedication.”
In a separate statement last night, Shadow Education Minister Lovitta Foggo said, “The OBA’s continuing inaction and lack of compassion in addressing the legitimate concerns of teachers, parents and student continues to impact on the education of the students at T.N. Tatem.
“While the Premier is spending taxpayer funds on removing mold from his office, to protect his health and comfort, our children are expected to simply endure mold in their school and hope for the best.
“The PTA at T.N. Tatem have taken a stand to protect the health and safety of our children, teachers and staff by keeping their children out of what they consider to be a health hazard.
“The parents, teachers and students need to know that the OBA cares about the health and safety of our children as much as they care about the health and safety of Premier Dunkley.
“We call on the OBA to act immediately to find a healthy and safe alternative site where our children can continue to learn and prepare for the future.”
In a statement this morning, the Ministry of Education said they have “created a plan for a temporary relocation of students and staff while the Ministry carries out cleaning and abatement of any mould issues at the T.N.Tatem Middle School site.
“We will today be discussing critical aspects of the plan with the school principal, key stakeholders as well as executive members of the PTA of T.N. Tatem Middle School. Following this, we will share the plan with the larger public.
“The Ministry has made the decision to keep the school closed today. It is the Ministry’s intention is to have students back to school by tomorrow. We will provide update later today.”
Lovita, give it a break. Help to find a solution and stop adding fuel to the fire.
Good news is America’s Cup is progressing.
Spithill from Oracle did meet the kids at TNT Tatem despite the disruption. they goot on with it for the benefit of the children. Shame the teachers and civil servants can’t get it done for the children without causing disruption.
DO your jobs people …this is about the children not YOU
Unacceptable, the Government should have had a better plan or solution in place by now. Children are losing valuable time in their Learning. When will the problem be addressed seriously. This is not looking good for the Government. Avoidance of a problem does not make it go away. Looks like the Government did not take into consideration the long-term impact upon the Children of Bermuda.
Absolutely pathetic response from moed. Bermuda should be very embarrassed.
Lovita is clearly out of touch and doesn’t read the ministry release and action.
She is clearly there to divide and stir up emotions.
Her inaction and just mouthing shows her true person. She is attempting to use this situation to further her position. UGLY.
The DOE in Bermuda is poor, it is hampered by unions on the inside and unions of the outside….Get them removed and we could have a robust dynamic and world class education system that would compete if not better the private schools.
I think what you have fail to realise is that the Opposition Party’s job is to criticise the standing government when they mess up. And in this case, they certainly have. I find it interesting that instead of pointing out that its the children who suffer, or that the government needs to do better for Bermuda’s kids, you choose to criticise the Shadow Minister who has no say in the education budget. Then you allude to unions as the cause for poor education, as if it has nothing to do with the allocation of resources. You and SOMUCHLESS seem to criticise everything else, rather than the root of the problem. And I bet none of your kids go to public school…
How many of these students have mould growing in their homes also? It’s difficult to get away from in Bermuda.
I wonder how fast the Mould would have been cleaned up if the School was located in FairyLands.!!!
Put a mask on and keep learning until it’s sorted.
Have they also had their homes checked.. because that is important as well.. as we Know most homes In Bermuda have mold.. and air quality issues.. Just sayin
such a big school I am sure they could have located these students in other classrooms in the school not sure what the big deal is really.
I was one of the first students that started at which was then Warwick Secondary and we had to begin at Warwick Camp for the first year while the now school was being completed which is not TN TAtem.. Did not interrupt our education at all.. Maybe look at Warwick Camp to put the students. Way down Clearwater really. I know if Mr. Williams was living today he was be shaking his head…
Have they also had their homes checked.. because that is important as well.. as we Know most homes In Bermuda have mold.. and air quality issues.. Just sayin
such a big school I am sure they could have located these students in other classrooms in the school not sure what the big deal is really.
I was one of the first students that started at which was then Warwick Secondary and we had to begin at Warwick Camp for the first year while the now school was being completed which is not TN Tatem.. Did not interrupt our education at all.. Maybe look at Warwick Camp to put the students. Way down Clearwater really. I know if Mr. Williams was living today he was be shaking his head…