Springer Memorial closed for rest of week to give students, staff ‘respite’ following simulation fiasco

The Springer Memorial Secondary School will be closed on Thursday and Friday to give students and teachers time to recuperate from the impact of the simulation drill that went wrong at the school last Wednesday.

This decision was taken after a meeting involving top management of the Government Hill, St Michael school and Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, according to a statement issued by the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS).

“Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw had a follow-up meeting with the teachers at the Springer Memorial School in their staff room. Also in attendance were Chairman of the Board of Management, Maxine Moore; Principal Cheryl Gill; Education Officer Cyrilene Willoughby and Senior School Attendance Officer Sharon Weekes-Cumberbatch. At the end of the near three-hour meeting, it was decided to grant the teachers and students alike a period of respite on Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20.

“Friday is already scheduled as Teachers’ Professional Day. They are all due to return to the institution on Monday, October 23,” the release stated.

After the meeting, Archer-Bradshaw also met with ancillary and administrative staff, spent time walking around the school grounds and interacting with the students, the BGIS statement added.

Just the day before, about 20 teachers called in sick.

Both teachers’ unions – the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) and the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) – distanced themselves from the action, saying that neither of them had sanctioned any action.

When contacted, BUT General Secretary Herbert Gittens said he did not hear any complaints about staffing issues on Wednesday.

“I didn’t get any calls about any concerns today so it seems that they may have had a better attendance today,” he told Barbados TODAY. (SZB)