News

“The safety of our students is our first concern,” says Department of Education Services (DES) Acting Director Tammy Banks-Dacosta. “We will always take the necessary precautions to ensure the well-being of our students.”

As part of DES’ emergency procedure, Clifton Hunter High School (CHHS) Principal Dr Richard Wildman was quickly on the scene (Monday, 23 September) when a school bus transporting students from the school was involved in a traffic accident on Sea View Road, East End.

Emergency services were summoned and also arrived shortly after the accident. Eight students were transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Government Hospital for medical attention after complaining of neck and back pain.

Dr Wildman checked on the students at the scene, and immediately notified the parents and guardians of the school as part of the protocol observed in such instances.  Notice was sent to the PTA’s WhatsApp group and also via the school’s Facebook page.  Some of the parents arrived on the scene to check on their children.   

The school bus operator provided an additional bus, and students who had indicated at that time that they were not feeling any pain or had any discomfort were allowed to board that bus home.

“We at the DES are satisfied with our team’s handling of the situation [Monday], but we will continue to assess and update our emergency response procedures as necessary to ensure the continued safety of our students,” says Mrs Banks-Dacosta.