Teachers want proof that middle schools will be safe before they and students return to classes next week.

Bermuda Union of Teachers general secretary Milton Scott yesterday fired off a letter to the Chief Education Officer and the Health and Safety Officer requesting that the five schools be inspected before school begins.

His letter was sent a few hours before Education Minister Jerome Dill announced Dellwood Middle School will not open on Monday as planned.

Mr. Dill, in a surprise Press conference, said the school -- which is to be fully accessible to the physically challenged -- was not ready for occupancy.

Contractors needed another week, he said, adding that teachers would then require a further week to prepare their classrooms.

However Mr. Dill -- who toured Dellwood several times last week including visits with Education Permanent Secretary Marion Robinson and Works and Engineering Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge -- said Government had organised "inter departmental supervision'' plans for some of the school's 300 students.

He promised to disclose details of the plans during the next couple of days.

"We're obviously not expecting to cater to some 300 children,'' Mr. Dill said. "Some parents and guardians will want to continue arrangements they have made for their children. But we're not going to leave parents to fend for themselves.'' And Mr. Dill noted that Dellwood PTA president Shirlene Simmons -- who could not be reached for comment -- and a group of "committed and concerned'' parents had offered to assist in whatever way they were needed.

"That is the kind of spirit which I believe is going to pay tremendous dividends in the future,'' he said. "I appreciate that and I'm sure the country will be grateful for that sort of spirit.'' All other schools, including the other middle schools and CedarBridge Academy, were expected to open on September 8 and 15 respectively.

But Sen. Scott earlier told The Royal Gazette there was "no way'' that Northlands Primary and Dellwood would be ready in the near future.

And he said there were still concerns about the conditions at the former Sandys Secondary, St. George's Secondary and Warwick Secondary.

"We have written to the CEO and the Health and Safety Officer, asking them about schools being inspected, especially those that have undergone renovations during the summer and that a safety certificate be issued so that the concerns that teachers have, as well as parents and other members of the community have, about schools not being available will be addressed through the proper Government department responsible for certifying places fit for habitation,'' Sen. Scott said.

The BUT did this to allow parents to make alternative arrangements for their children if necessary.

"We want schools to open,'' Mr. Scott stressed. "We look forward to having our youngsters returning to school. But if the environment is not safe, they should not be there.

"For example, there's going to be ongoing work at Dellwood Middle School.

"What arrangements are going to be put in place to keep students away from the work areas? How can we be expected to carry on instruction when there is going to be noise from various machinery? So all those factors need to be looked into.'' Responding to the union's call for safety certificates, Mr. Dill said: "If a certificate of some description is what will satisfy teachers, then I have no objection to going that route. My primary concern is always the safety and security of the students and that they be given an environment that is conducive to learning.'' Mr. Dill added that he would not hesitate to keep a school closed, if it did not meet that criteria.

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