I would like to take this opportunity to be among those congratulating Tim Duncan on his public commitment to the people of the Virgin Islands.
It is nice to see a local do good after doing well. On reading accounts of his life in the islands I have learned that the place that Tim learned to play basketball was St. D’s, the now-dormant-but-not-defunct institution of learning, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal
School.
After having been founded by a group, which included my father Dr. Richard Bond, it provided K-12 education to the people of St. Croix for about 25 years. At that point due to the closure of Martin Marietta Alumina, the school fell below its break-even point and was forced to close. There were a number of other private K-12 schools, most started after St. D's, which were formed during the islands palmier days.
These schools filled in by enlarging their class size. In discussions as to how St. Dunstan's alums might help revive the school it has been stated that the island does not need increased K-12 capacity. This assessment may be the case but education need not be a strictly domestic service.
There are many communities which have education as their main industry. While a parochial view is reasonable for elementary, it's not for high school and college. Students can be recruited from around the region, the country or the world.
One of the anchors for many institutions of higher learning is their athletic program. Tim Duncan's achievements are partly a reflection of the quality of his coaches. Some of these same coaches continue to reside on St. Croix.
The court where Tim first started making hoops is still there. We have an attraction to athletes for short-term camp programs and students who might wish to play for "Tim Duncan’s team".
A basketball camp could be started here at St. D's independently. It could then be integrated into a ninth-to-sophmore institution.
