CedarBridge Academy will continue to operate as the academic incubator for students until everyone in the public school system realises the importance of literacy.

That was the warning yesterday from board of governors chairman Garry Madeiros.

Referring to the problem of many students performing below the required literacy level, Mr. Madeiros said: "CedarBridge is dealing with the symptom and has no control over dealing with the cause so we will continually have to play catch-up and raise the level of our incoming kids just to get them functioning at the level they should be.'' Emphasis on literacy at earlier levels has been Mr. Madeiros "cry'' over the last two years, he noted.

"This is a recognition by some in the education system, but not all,'' he said. "They need to change the approach with regards to assessments and standards required.'' Discussing his plans for CedarBridge this year, Mr. Madeiros said: "I would like several things to be accomplished: First of all, a very quick introduction and involvement by the new board members into the running of the school.

"Second, the ongoing success of our literacy skills improvement initiative.

"And thirdly, and probably more importantly, a total recognition by all involved in education that the middle schools and primary schools are where the most work is required to raise the level of literacy.'' The results of what is coming out of the school system indicated a need for improvements, Mr. Madeiros added.

"That tells me that there are some things that aren't being done or we're allowing some things that should not be done,'' he said.

While noting that all assessments and appraisals will have flaws, Mr. Madeiros said: "There is so much room for improvement that the risk of flaws is far outweighed by the advantages of things that can be done.'' Admitting that he may consider throwing in the towel as head of the board next year, Mr. Madeiros said he and his board still had much work to do. And he stressed that his aim is to ensure that CedarBridge is well positioned for the 21st Century.

"We have a heck of a lot more to do from the point of view of bringing the education standard up and getting teachers up to scratch with information technology or using computers in teaching,'' he pointed out.

The board will also have to give top consideration to the future leadership of CedarBridge.

The three-year contract held by the school's first and current principal Ernest Payette -- from Belleville, Ontario -- ends in September.

"My feelings are there are skill requirements and a knowledge base that is vitally important for the running of a senior comprehensive school,'' Mr.

Madeiros said. "We must ensure that the person filling the principal post has those skills required. I'm the first one who would like to see a Bermudian in that position. But we must ensure that that individual has the skills required to be effective in moving CedarBridge forward.

"The last thing that I would want to see is us putting a person in place who will fail.

"We have a couple of Bermudians at CedarBridge who have the potential. My only question is whether that potential is going to be developed and prepared by this September or next September. If we all feel comfortable that we have that individual, we will appoint him or her.'' Meanwhile, Mr. Payette agreed that while the school had accomplished much in the past year, it still had a long way to go, particularly in terms of improving the literacy standard.

"Our task when students enter our school is trying to take them from the skills they come in with and help develop,'' he said. "Some students are reading at grade 12-plus level, but many are not.

"We're trying to improve the reading project and maintain the volunteer programme. Therefore, we're looking for support from the Ministry, the public and those in the corporate sector.'' The school's PTA have already pledged its support for the new year.

President Patricia Basden said her wishes for CedarBridge in 1999 were "to have the level of literacy improved before students reach senior school, to have a school field, and to have more parent participation''.