Pupils will today return to Spice Valley Middle School after a longer than usual summer break.

The 280 students will return to class this morning following a nine-day delay in completing refurbishment and improvement work to the building on Middle Road in Warwick.

The school was supposed to return last Monday, September 10, along with most other schools on the Island. However, substantial building work was not finished in time, and the opening was put off until a week later, September 17.

But on Friday evening, the Education Ministry announced that the threat from Hurricane Erin last weekend, and the ensuing storm, led to a power outage at the school - again delaying work.

On Friday afternoon, work was still not completed and many rooms had not been cleaned, meaning teachers had been unable to go in and prepare both their rooms and lessons.

Chief Education Officer Dr. Joseph Christopher said the opening of the school would be put off, yet again, until today.

And last night, Education Permanent Secretary Michelle Khaldun confirmed that both the Works and Engineering Ministry and Education Ministry were satisfied that the school was ready and safe for the students. Ms. Khaldun thanked parents for their understanding and said the school would be open for business as planned today.

Principal of the school, Patricia Holder, was at the school yesterday morning with her staff putting the finishes touches to the building and getting ready for the start of the new term.

She said: "We certainly hope that we are set for tomorrow. We can definitely see the difference after all the work.

"We know that they (workmen) have been working flat out and working very, very hard, and I have been dreaming about this. I have been eating and sleeping it, I guess.

"Parents have been extremely supportive, and we have even had some students coming in over the last week, volunteering to help the teachers and set up the rooms.

"We can't wait to get open."

Spice Valley has undergone major renovations in the last two years, with parts of the school being expanded, sections rebuilt and others modernised and redecorated.

When pupils return today they will see a brand new impressive library, have new bathrooms, new administration area, new-look classrooms and an extensive courtyard, to name just a few of the changes.

But there has also been much work carried out behind the scenes, including rewiring, electrical work and replastering.

However, contractors BermudaTech Construction will continue to be on site for another year to complete the third and last phase of the $6 million programme.

That will involve the remaining old section of the school being totally revamped, the auditorium being rebuilt and given a modern look, and the entrance and driveway being re-laid.

Mrs. Holder said: "The school is going to be very very nice when it is finished."

Delays occurred this summer, partly because teachers failed to hand over classrooms as quickly as hoped, but also because asbestos was found in the ceilings of some of the classrooms.