Minster the Hon. Clarence Terceira said yesterday.

And another special school which Government is closing -- Woodlands School -- will be converted into an "alternative school'' for "hard core'' disruptive students, Dr. Terceira said.

Dr. Terceira told the House of Assembly Bermuda has an "outstanding'' pre-school system, and Government will "accept responsibility to provide sufficient places so that parents of four-year-olds may have the option of a place'' at one of them.

Currently, Government has at least one pre-school in each parish, but can only accommodate about half the children whose parents want them to attend. The Minister later told The Royal Gazette that the new pre-school on Middle Road in Southampton would open in September, even if it only had one teacher and 12 four-year-olds initially. Eventually, it could accommodate about 36 students, he said.

Cedar Grove and Woodlands -- which accommodated children with special needs -- are being closed at the end of this school year as part of Government's plan to integrate such children into the regular school system.

The first special school to close, Friendship Vale School, was already turned into a pre-school for students with special needs.

As for turning Woodlands School on Mount Hill in Pembroke into an alternative school, Dr. Terceira said the details had not been worked out, but he wanted the school to open in September.

Both the principals' association and the teachers' union had asked for a special school that would take "hard core'' disruptive students out of the regular system, he said.

"It seems to be the sensible thing to do, to cut down on this violence.'' While the Bermuda Union of Teachers and the National PTA have supported plans for an alternative school, they have said it must be properly staffed with psychologists and other professionals.

Dr. Terceira said his staff would be studying that question "right away.'' "We're going to have to bite the bullet and do it.'' The Minister did not know how many students would attend the school, but he did not expect the entire three-storey Woodlands building would be needed.

JULY TRIAL FOR RILEY CTS July trial for Riley Former Under-23 soccer player Shawn Riley will have to wait until the summer to defend himself against local drug charges.

Riley, who returned home last month after facing drug charges with six other local players in Miami, was later charged in Magistrates' Court with possessing heroin.

The 21-year-old was also accused of stealing a Suzuki motorcycle and receiving a stolen cycle.

He has pleaded not guilty to all three offences which were said to have occurred on August 18, last year.

Riley was granted bail in the sum of $500 with a like surety, on February 27, and ordered to return to court yesterday for trial.

But when he showed up in court yesterday afternoon the matter was adjourned until July 17.

His bail was extended.