Belair Alumni Association
914-997-6474
33 years of Outstanding Academic Achievement
info@belairschool.org
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Belair Beginnings
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Belair Alumni Association |
914-997-6474 |
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33 years of Outstanding Academic Achievement |
info@belairschool.org |
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Belair Beginnings |
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You have heard the official story of how Belair began. Now read the real story from someone who was a part of it -- Perry Bendicksen, Belair's first Headmaster.
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A Gem Of A Story From Belair's First HeadmasterIt may be difficult for you to imagine but back in 1967, a year before Belair opened, the school was something that was not supposed to happen. Alpart and Kaiser Aluminum, the managing partner, knew elementary and high school facilities were needed for its construction and start-up families. The planners, with the help of International School Services (ISS), envisioned US families rotating in and out on short stays, eighteen months to two years, until Jamaican personnel were trained to take over the plant at Nain. ISS surveyed the existing schools in Mandeville and struck a deal with Manchester Prep to upgrade and expand the school with some US leadership in key positions. I came on board as Headmaster in 1967 with the specific understanding that no American high school was to be undertaken. I was to initiate exploratory talks with De Carteret College and Bishops about a cooperative venture utilizing their facilities and staff for all but American History and the sciences. These subjects were treated differently in British type schools geared to the Cambridge A and O level exams as opposed to our SAT and ACT tests. In October of 1967 an agreement was reached with both schools, with Sir Colin Mac Gregor representing the schools and Winston Cundiff Alpart. Alpart was to provide monies to expand the physical facilities at both institutions while paying regular tuition and supplying American staff to handle American History and science. When all appeared set for a fall, 1968 opening the agreement foundered. Sir Colin raised the ante 100%, Cundiff felt compromised. He came to me annoyed and pressured. Could I design, staff and open a school in ten months? Alpart needed high school facilities by September, 1968, for key personnel would not arrive at a very critical stage in the plant's development. Later that same evening I drew a rough sketch on the back of a shirt cardboard. This was given to draftsman at Spur Tree who designed the final specs for construction. Meanwhile, Cundiff showed me a seven-acre tract of land where Belair stands. The elevations varied 36 feet. It was almost as interesting and challenging to place the school, necessary parking and playing fields on this terrain as designing the buildings themselves. As originally envisioned most of the staffing was done in Jamaica via advertisements in the Gleaner. US staff was hired through ISS for science and history. On the opening day, Belair was a fully functioning secondary school, complete with science labs, stocked library and Tuck Shop. The rest, as we say, is history. by Mr. Perry Bendicksen - Belair's first Headmaster Bendicksen@aol.com
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Belair Alumni AssociationUNITY THROUGH FRIENDSHIP AND KNOWLEDGECopyright (c) 2001 Belair Alumni Association |
28 Perry Avenue
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