Classes were called off at CedarBridge Academy yesterday after 74 teachers staged a “sick out” in protest at the school environment and its alleged effect on staff and students’ health.

Education Minister Randy Horton revealed staff had forced the school’s closure for the day by staying at home amid claims his Ministry “do not care” about the concerns of teachers.

Mr. Horton conceded teachers were still experiencing symptoms at the school, which underwent a $3.8 million clean-up after it was shut down due to a mould infestation last year.

The Minister told a press conference yesterday afternoon: “I am, of course, concerned that a number of teachers are anxious about their health and fearful that illnesses may be environmentally related.

“We have been working closely with the Health Department to determine whether there are indeed any reasons to believe that staff illnesses are related to the environment within the facility.”

Mr. Horton said more tests were being carried out to check the air quality — just days after he had declared the school safe based on air quality tests.

The latest investigation involves testing the air quality for non biological products.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann said: “The air quality has improved dramatically, but it seems we have to continue to monitor the situation.

“As we met with teachers, it’s very clear to us they have ongoing concerns they are experiencing symptoms.

“We can’t explain why some individuals continue to have any symptoms. It’s a matter of trying to rule out all the possible things.”

A source who asked not to be named told The Royal Gazette that the protest was partly to support a female teacher currently receiving treatment for chronic ear, nose and throat infections at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

The source — a friend and colleague of the teacher — said Government Employee Health Insurance (GEHI) had refused to pay for tests which the woman needed to find out the cause of her illness.

She believes it was triggered by mould at the school.

“The teachers have come out in support of her because her ordeal is so traumatic but also in support of other teachers who have fallen so ill,” said the source, adding that when teachers met to discuss staging the protest one staff member had to leave the room because of the mould.

The sick woman’s lawyer Paul Harshaw confirmed she was in Baltimore and that GEHI was withholding funds for medical investigations.

He said she was referred to the US hospital after doctors on the Island could not get to the bottom of her symptoms.

“The insurance company is refusing to fund tests ordered by a doctor,” he said. “The natural suspicion, of course, is that Government doesn’t want the results of those tests to be known.”

He added: “She has complained to the Ministry of Finance and the Premier. I have complained to GEHI. There has been no response from any part of Government.

“She has had chronic health problems for some months which are believed to be related to the environment at CedarBridge.

“She either finds the funding to undergo the tests or she continues to be ill indefinitely.”

Education permanent secretary Rosemary Tyrrell said of the claim: “That’s not anything that I’m aware of. They have definitely not taken up that issue with us.”

She said she “could not imagine” that the protest was connected to the mould contamination which forced the closure of the school in November and which some staff and students claim is still causing health problems.

After teachers failed to show up yesterday, Mr. Horton and Labour Minister Derrick Burgess held emergency talks with officials from Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT).

Mr. Horton described the discussions as “frank and cordial”.

“One thing that emerges clearly,” he said, “is a perception among some teachers that we at the Ministry of Education and other leaders in public education do not care about the concerns of our teachers.

“Let me say before we go any further that we do care. We care enough to have ordered the school closed because of those concerns.

“We care enough to have ordered continuing tests of the air quality of the facility.

“And we care enough to undergo even more testing to satisfy ourselves that the facility is healthy and safe.”

Mr. Horton said union officials had assured him teachers and support staff would turn up for work today.

Complaints of poor air quality and dampness causing ill health have persisted since CedarBridge reopened in January.

Last month, about 150 students staged a protest outside the premises.

Parents said yesterday they feared for their children’s education but supported teachers.

The mother of a 14-year-old girl said: “I think it’s still the mould that’s making people ill. My neighbour’s daughter has been home for the last couple of days not feeling too good.”

Another mother said she was worried that her 16-year-old son would not complete all the hours at school needed to graduate.

But she added: “I can’t blame the teachers. You need to be working in a healthy environment. I feel sorry for the teachers because they are humans as well. Students are also suffering. They need to clean that school up.”

The Ministry of Education informed electronic media of the cancellation of classes at about 7 a.m. yesterday after an influx of calls from teachers.

A statement sent out at 9.04 a.m. said the closure was due to a large number of staff absences. “The Ministry regrets the inconvenience this has caused,” it said. The school grounds were deserted yesterday morning with just a handful of cars parked there.

Officials from the Ministry of Health, including Dr. Cann, arrived just before 9 a.m. and entered the building before the doors were shut to the Press.