The Department of Education is making an all out attempt at re-opening the troubled Elena Christian Junior High School on St. Croix Monday when sessions resume following the Christmas holidays.
On Thursday Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II and Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds toured the school, which is undergoing repairs, to see first hand the improvements that are under way.
"The repairs are underway and progress is quite evident," Education spokesperson June Archibald said Thursday evening. In the library she noted that the carpeting has been removed and replaced with tiles, fans have been installed in some classrooms.
However, it appears that all the repairs will not be completed by Monday’s school re-opening so double sessions will be in effect until the emergency repair work is completed. The department’s leadership will get a clearer picture of how long the repair work will take when another walk through takes place on Sunday.
"Following the walk through and inspection, contractors will turn over to the department the portion of the school that is ready for occupancy," Archibald said.
She said a tentative schedule has been developed for the double sessions that will likely be required at the junior high school on Monday.
Under that unofficial schedule, seventh graders will report to school at 7:15 am to 12:45 pm and eighth graders will report from 12:45 pm to 5:30 pm. Archibald said lunch will be served at both sessions and bus service will be available.
Simmonds is expected to make a statement sometime Sunday after the walk through is completed as regarding the resumption of classes at Elena Christian.
The school was shut down after Hurricane Lenny when a series of temporary fixes failed to repair structural deficiencies in the buildings that comprise the junior high school.
Teachers and students protested conditions at the school last year in a move to bring public attention to the myriad of problems they face daily.
