Racing the clock

AT least three schools in Portland are racing against the clock to finish hurricane-related repairs as well as procure much-needed furniture and books for the start of the academic year on September 7.

Though spared the wrath of Hurricane Melissa, Happy Grove High School was damaged by Hurricane Beryl, rendering six of its classroom uninhabitable for more than two years due to damage to the roofs. Funding issues have been at the root of the delay. The school’s repairs are now at 90 per cent completion. However, windows and doors damaged from the 2024 storm have yet to be replaced.

Fair Prospect High, which was hit by Hurricane Melissa last October, recently completed roofing repairs to two classrooms, with work still ongoing to plaster sections of walls, install windows and doors, as well as to secure desks and chairs for students.