Dear Sir,

In 1971, Boaz Island School was in need of repair and the decision was made to amalgamate it with Sandys Grammar School, renaming the school Somerset Primary School.

Sandys Grammar School could not accommodate the influx of students from Boaz Island without building additional classrooms. The Government wanted to add a few more classrooms at the back of the property. This was not acceptable to the parent teacher association and the Government was notified of land to the north of the playing field, which at that time it was not aware of. Prior to the decision to amalgamate, requests had been made to upgrade the classrooms and bring them up to standard but these had been ignored.

The PTA had plans drawn suggesting an infant school be built on the land north of the playing field with a revamp of the existing building to include a school library. After meetings with the Minister for Education, the spokesperson for Education in the House of Assembly, the Permanent Secretary of Education and the Chief Education Officer, a compromise was reached for what is in existence today.

The argument for not doing the renovations was that it would cause disruption for the students for six months. The PTA's argument was that we preferred to do that with our children than cause a mishmash of buildings over the next few years, thereby affecting students for the next 20 years.

It was not an easy decision. It took a tremendous amount of work, with consultation with the parents and teachers. The PTA meetings at that time had an attendance of some 70 persons, which showed the interest of the parents and staff.

I was very pleased with the support of staff, parents and the PTA committee, which resulted in the school we have today, but that was 50 years ago and no doubt it is at the stage where an upgrade would be in order.

ANTONY SIESE

Past president,

Somerset Primary School