Berkeley Institute into a senior secondary school.

But there was still no word yesterday as to when construction on the Island's designated second senior school will begin.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons in his 1998/99 Budget statement noted that plans were being finalised for the upgrading of Berkeley.

The school's board of governors plan to build a state-of-the-art school on the 7.42-acre Ridgway property across the street from the present school site in order to allow construction without disrupting classes.

They had originally planned to have the development completed by December 15, 2000.

But Mr. Calvin White, chairman of the school's board of governors, later revealed that various events had transpired -- mainly knowledge gained from operations at CedarBridge Academy since its opening -- to make the board review the basis upon which the Berkeley design would proceed.

Giving the worst case scenario, Mr. White said he expected the senior school to be completed by September, 2003.

However, Education Minister Jerome Dill has insisted that he did not expect the opening of the senior school to be delayed by three years.

Government was working toward having it fully operational no later than 2001, he said.

Mr. Dill was not available for comment yesterday.

But Dr. Gibbons pointed out that "...some $6 million is included in Government's capital plan to get this project underway''.

He explained that this included more than $3 million allocated, but not spent during the last financial year.

Dr. Gibbons later told The Royal Gazette that Government had to change its approach on Berkeley's budget due to a decision to build the senior school on another site.

Mr. White later said while he was pleased that Government had begun to provide funding for Berkeley's senior school, work on the school could not begin until the number of students Berkeley will be required to take in and the courses to be offered was worked out.

"We're still in talks on whether we will admit students in September,'' Mr.

White added.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA