Whitney Institute Middle School will close for good tomorrow, it was confirmed yesterday.

The Ministry of Education and the school's board conceded they had failed to end their row over repairs to Whitney's ageing building with each blaming the other for the breakdow

The demise of the 125-year school means students will be found places in other middle schools, with the Ministry saying there is adequate capacity elsewhere. At a press conference yesterday, Education Minister Randolph Horton said the school's certificate of registration would be withdrawn at the end of the academic year to ensure the health and safety of students.

Problems are said to include termites and rats, bad plumbing, slippery floors, lack of disabled access, a faulty fire alarm and falling light fixtures.

Mr. Horton said that before spending $20 million to bring the school up to standard, the Ministry wanted an assurance that Whitney would remain in the education system for at least five years. He said the trustees refused to make that assurance and made it clear they did not believe they could legally commit to public education or to parents. The board argues it put a proposal for repairs to the Ministry on Friday, June 13, but says the Ministry replied that a review of this suggestion could take many months.

Trustees say this took the decision out of their hands and left them with no choice other than to shut the school.

Over the past month have failed to settle the argument, although at one stage they said they had reached an agreement in principle. Mr. Horton said:"The certificate is being withdrawn to ensure that the health and safety of students, teachers and staff who attend the Whitney Institute are protected.

"This Government is committed to the health and safety of every school, is committed to ensuring the highest levels of public education for the citizens of this country, and is committed to ensuring that their relationship with all those dedicated to the public school system is maintained."

As an aided school, the operation and maintenance of Whitney is the responsibility of the trustees, with financial assistance provided by Government.

Mr. Horton continued:"The Ministry was more than willing to assist the trustees in the performance of their mandate. But the trustees were unwilling to assist us in the performance of ours."The Ministry wanted an assurance that Whitney Institute would remain in the public education system for at least five years. And the trustees refused to give that assurance.

"In fact, they made it clear they do not believe they are legally able to commit to public education, to the parents who send their children to school in that system, or to us."

He added:"It would have required about $20 million to bring Whitney Institute up to the standards appropriate for students and staff. I believe this scale of investment should only have been made if the trustees were able to give the public value for money by committing to remaining in the public school system for five years."

Whitney Educational Trust chairman Tom Davis said in a statement last night the board had "with regret" advised principal Freddie Evans that the school would permanently close on Thursday, June 26.

Mr. Davis said:"Sadly, the trustees have been dealing with a deteriorating facility for many years.

"Since before a classroom ceiling collapsed in 1999, the trustees have been requesting that the Ministry of Education honour its obligations under the Education Act 1996 to assist Whitney as one of Bermuda's aided schools."Unfortunately, these requests have fallen upon deaf ears."

He said the board had made every possible effort to work with the Ministry to keep the school open, adding: "On June 13, the trustees prepared and delivered to the Ministry an agreement covering the relevant issues.

"The trustees were advised by the Ministry on June 19 that review and negotiation of the agreement would take many weeks or even months.

"The decision has now been taken out of the hands of the trustees."

The Ministry has arranged a meeting for parents at Whitney Institute Cafetorium at 6 p.m. tomorrow regarding what will happen now for the students.

Are you a parent at Whitney? What do you think?

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