Staff and students returned to Whitney Institute yesterday after much needed renovations gave them a late start.

The Whitney Institute family were very excited to enter their newly renovated school and were extremely pleased with the emergency face-lift that the school received over the summer months.

The school reopened a week after the other public schools opened but Principal, Freddie Evans said that they just about on target despite the late start.

He said: "The students were very excited and feel very comfortable in their new space.

"The whole eastern wing (which was the biggest area of concern) has been remodelled.

Mr. Evans said that included in the renovations was the replacement of the entire stairwell.

He said: "This has been a unique opportunity where all of the community came together.

"It was a labour of love, many of the workers were former students and they worked hard to make sure that the building was intact and ready for the new school year."

Mr. Evans said that the students were so proud of their school and the renovations that they gave the Works and Engineering staff a standing ovation in yesterday morning's assembly.

He said that there were no glitches in the remodelling of the school and no major setbacks.

"We are playing catch up because of the late start, but it was resolved by illuminating the orientation, which would have taken place last week.

"The students came in yesterday morning and got right to work."

Mr. Evans said that they would have to amend the school calendar a bit to accommodate the late start. In May, the school trustees had threatened to close the school down for health and safety reasons.

The 125-year-old school - which was said to be riddled with problems including rats, termites, falling light fixtures, no fire alarms and faulty wiring - had been declared unsafe by the Ministry of Works and Engineering.

However, after concerned parents and staff met with the officials and demanded a resolve, Minister Horton announced an agreement had been reached which ensured the school's doors re-open this school term.

A $1.5 million summer renovation package was implemented to make safe the building, with all classrooms to comply with Government health and safety standards.