Bermuda's new secondary school will be equipped with a computer system that will record, identify and even alert parents when their child skips school.

This was revealed last night during a meeting with CedarBridge Academy officials where parents and students had various questions answered.

CedarBridge Academy principal Ernest Payette told the large audience that in addition to security guards and cameras, CedarBridge will be equipped with an elaborate computer system that will keep track of students.

During the first period class, he explained, teachers will take attendance and that information will be put into a computer.

The computerised attendance system will print a readout for the school secretary, revealing any missing students.

Mr. Payette said the computer programme the school was looking to have installed for the forthcoming school year will call all missing student's homes.

"The computer will tell you if it never got through, if an answering machine responded or if it made personal contact,'' he explained.

But he admitted that the computer will not be able to determine the identity of the individual who answered the telephone -- if it was a parent or a student. "The computer will also be able to tell you if your child has missed the whole day or just periods one, three and five.'' Mr. Payette also informed parents that they will receive information by August on how students will be able to get to and from school.

He said school officials had met with the Public Transportation Board and to date a minimum of four buses will be allocated for each end of the Island to directly bus students to school.