BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

STUDENTS from Sweeting’s Cay and McLean’s Town returned to the newly rebuilt McLean’s Town Primary School in East End on Monday, the first time since Hurricane Dorian destroyed their previous school in 2019.

For the past five years, they were bused to Freeport for classes.

Michelle Bowleg, deputy director of education, highlighted the importance of reopening the school in McLean’s Town, eliminating the long commute to Freeport. Ten students attended on the first day.

Ms Bowleg noted the community’s positive reception to the new facilities and reported that Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell and East End administrator Shanice Thompson visited the school on its reopening day.

In West Grand Bahama, the first day at Eight Mile Rock High, Martin Town, Bartlett Hill, and West End Primary Schools went smoothly, with police helping with traffic.

Ms Bowleg also visited the Holmes Rock school under construction, expected to open later this year as a feeder for Eight Mile Rock High. She noted that the Ministry of Education will announce the opening date before the school year ends.

Additional administrative support has been provided to EMRHS, and a full team made checks at various schools.

Ms Bowleg reported no significant issues with educator shortages in Grand Bahama, noting only a few teachers are in transition.