Education Minister Randy Horton told MPs yesterday that two classrooms at CedarBridge Academy had been closed and would be cleaned this weekend — but not because of mould.

Mr. Horton made his statement in the House of Assembly where he blamed "unpleasant odours" for the closure of the classrooms at the Island's largest public school, which has 1,000-plus students and staff.

He said the two rooms were tested last month as part of the "rigorous health and safety programme" now in force at the school and their environmental conditions found to be "satisfactory".

This weekend they will receive "extensive cleaning" and be equipped with air conditioning systems.

CedarBridge Academy was closed down for two months at the end of 2006 due to mould contamination which independent assessors later said "very probably" made at least 14 students sick, including one boy who almost died.

An unknown number of teachers are also thought to have suffered illness as a result of the infestation with one, Ulama Finn-Hendrickson, winning a court battle last week against the Ministry of Education after it stopped her pay when she refused to return to the school.

Mr. Horton said yesterday that two teachers raised the alarm about the foul-smelling classrooms on February 19.

"In response and acting in the interest of the teachers and the students, the CedarBridge administration relocated the teachers and students to other classrooms and removed the classrooms from active service," he said.

The Minister said union representatives were informed of the situation and asked for advice.

The classrooms were given a negative air machine to help circulate the air and will be re-tested.

Mr. Horton apologised to teachers and students who were inconvenienced. He added: "We are all aware that any incident at CedarBridge immediately gains the attention of the media. This most recent incident is no exception.

"Nonetheless, we continue to encourage the media to see CedarBridge Academy in the same positive light we see them and allow these teachers and students to continue to succeed under the watchful gaze of encouragement rather than a scrutinising glare of pessimism."

This newspaper contacted the Ministry of Education earlier this month to ask for a "top ten list" of achievements for CedarBridge to accompany a piece on its tenth anniversary.

A Ministry spokeswoman replied that she would not be able to "glean" any information until the following day as it was a Sunday evening. This newspaper never received the achievements list.

* Anyone with a story — good or bad — about any of Bermuda's schools is urged to contact our newsdesk by calling 278-0133/0137 or emailing news@royalgazette.bm.