Teachers, principals, and education officials have made progress on two important school issues.

According to Education Minister Jerome Dill, representatives from the Bermuda Union of Teachers, the Association of School Principals, and his Ministry had "a very useful meeting'' on Tuesday.

They discussed the much-awaited schools Code of Conduct and the alternative school proposal.

While noting that the draft form of the code was produced by "certain principals'' and seen by community groups and various teachers, Mr. Dill said it was clear that the BUT's executive should and would have the opportunity to give its input before the code is finalised.

"We determined that we did want to work together,'' he said.

As a result of that all parties involved agreed to meet again by the end of the month.

"We undertook to get back together certainly before Christmas,'' Mr. Dill said. "That is a tremendous step in the right direction.

"I'm hopeful that we can do away with suggestions that the Ministry is doing one thing and teachers are excluded.'' The BUT has stressed that input was needed from all sectors of the community, particularly teachers and parents, if the code was to be effective.

The teachers' union has also supported plans for the creation of an alternative school for troubled students.

Last week BUT general secretary Sen. Milton Scott told The Royal Gazette teachers were very disappointed that Government had not lived up to its promise to turn Woodlands School on Mount Hill, Pembroke into an alternative school in September.

Sen. Scott said he understood that former Education Minister Clarence Terceira was in favour of such a school, but technical officers in the Education Department were not.

However, Mr. Dill yesterday stressed that the Education Department had not changed its mind about an alternative school.

And he said at the meeting it was determined that the best possible scenario was to deliver an alternative programme in an alternative school.

But first, he said, it was best to begin a pilot alternative programme in current schools.