explain how students will catch up on studies due to the school's late opening.

Dellwood and the Island's other four middle schools were originally scheduled to open on September 8.

But due to construction delays blamed mainly on bad weather, the schools opened a week later.

And the opening of Dellwood, which is to be the only fully-accessible middle school, was postponed until September 29.

While Dellwood PTA president Shirlene Simmons said parents understood the reason for the delay, Education Minister Jerome Dill said they believed it was important to meet before classes began to discuss how the students will make up for the time lost.

"The real good news is that the middle school curriculum provides us with the flexibility to make up classes,'' he said, explaining that the schedule allows teachers of various courses to expand class time.

Mr. Dill and other senior education officials will meet with the parents at 7.30 p.m. at Berkeley Institute.