Talks over the fate of Berkeley Institute's current buildings may delay work on its new state-of-the-art facility.

Despite Government's Budget promise to commit $2 million for preliminary design work on Berkeley's new senior school, The Royal Gazette has learned that groundbreaking, which was set to take place this spring, will not take place until late this year.

And the delay could hinder completion of the new school which was set for 2002.

Berkeley board of governors chairman Calvin White confirmed that a conceptual plan for the new school had been completed.

But he said he did not know whether the plan had been approved by the Planning Department.

"It does not look like we will be breaking ground prior to late this year,'' Mr. White added.

"A number of things have put us back. The main thing will be the decision that has to be made on what happens with the current buildings.'' The Berkeley Educational Society, which owns the buildings, is in talks with Government over the issue.

When contacted, Society chairman Clifford Maxwell declined to comment on the talks.

Berkeley's board plan to build the new school on the 7.42-acre site across the street from the present school in order to allow construction without disrupting classes.

They had originally planned to have the development completed by December 15, 2000. Berkeley admitted what was thought would be its last class of first-year students in September, 1996 in preparation for conversion to a senior secondary school.

But problems with overcrowding at CedarBridge Academy -- the Island's other senior school -- and other issues, forced the board to review the basis upon which the Berkeley design would proceed.

Last year, Berkeley took in 96 new students to help alleviate CedarBridge's overcrowding.

And during the recent 1999/2000 Budget speech, Finance Minister Eugene Cox revealed that $1.1 million had been allotted to Berkeley for the cost of additional teachers and assistants at Berkeley, CedarBridge, and various middle schools.

Bermuda Union of Teachers president Michael Charles said: "The money to be spent on Berkeley is good because they (the Education Ministry last year) had loaded all these students on them (Berkeley staff) without funding.'' "This money will go some way to alleviate the stress that was placed on staff,'' Mr. Charles added.

Mr. White echoed similar sentiments.

"We're pleased about the funds allocated for that,'' he said. "And we're anxious to move forward on the development.''