The youngest pupils at Vivien Vanterpool Primary School in Island Harbour are learning from home as the smell of sargassum lingers in the area.
The kindergarten, grade one and grade two classes closed at 12pm on Monday, 28 April, with students switching to e-learning. They are set to reopen on Wednesday, 30 April.
Pupils in grades three, four, five and six have remained at school during this period.
Last week an influx of sargassum at Island Harbour prompted government action as it began piling up along the shoreline.
The brown floating seaweed began to accumulate on 22 April, drawing attention from local residents and authorities.
Two days later, a government Facebook post said remediation of the beach near Vivien Vanterpool Primary School was underway.
In a press release on 28 April, the Department of Education said it had successfully completed the beach clean-up at the school and its surroundings.
“However, build up further down the beach and residue means that the odour remains strong in the area,” a spokesperson said.
The department plans to sanitise the classroom walls and engage with the local land and business owners in an attempt to address the issue.
“The safety and wellness of the students and staff remain paramount to the Department of Education,” the press release continued.
In February, the government showcased its first Barber Surf Rake – a tractor-towed beach cleaner which makes clean-ups faster, more efficient and less labour-intensive.
