ROEHAMPTON, St James — With sections of the roof at Roehampton Basic School in St James still covered by tarpaulin, weeks away from the start of the new school year, school board chairman Malvareen Johnson and her team sprang into fund-raising mode. But they fell short of the $750,000 it is expected to cost to put on a new zinc roof.

They still need donations, but they have taken a significant step forward and they are determined that they will welcome students September morning. On Monday, the Roehampton community development committee (CDC) handed over a $250,000-cheque to help the early childhood institution restore its Hurricane Melissa-damaged roof.

“It’s a good feeling, I’m overwhelmed by this generous contribution,” Johnson told the Jamaica Observer.