Six weeks before the start of the new academic year, repairs are under way at some of the territory's public schools and awaiting notice to proceed from the Property and Procurement Department at others, according to Education Department authorities.
"We are proceeding to accomplish as much as we can by the opening of the new school year," Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds said in a release issued Thursday afternoon. She said most of the work in progress involves repairs to roofs, electrical systems and restroom facilities, including replacement of restroom hardware and doors.
In the cases where notice to proceed is yet to come, she said, the contractors recognize "the need for repairs to be completed by the start of the new school year," which is Aug. 25.
Construction crews are at work on St. Croix at the Pearl B. Larsen and Juanita Gardine elementary schools, Arthur Richards Junior High and Central High School, which is the site of a hazard mitigation project funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the release stated. Work "is expected to begin shortly"at Claude O. Markoe Elementary and Elena Christian Junior High.
Work at most of the schools is being made possible by FEMA funding and insurance claim settlements relating to Hurricane Lenny damage, and "much of this work will be ongoing after schools reopen," the release said.
In the St. Thomas-St. John district, no such hurricane-related resources were available, but FEMA-funded hazard mitigation work has begun at the Charlotte Amalie High School. On St. Thomas, repair work is also under way at Eudora Kean High; the Leonard Dober, Joseph Gomez, Kirwan Terrace, E. Benjamin Oliver, Joseph Sibilly and Edith Williams elementary schools; and the Day Adult Education Complex. And on St. John, repair crews are working at the Guy Benjamin and Julius E. Sprauve schools.
Simmonds stated that she was optimistic that "most, if not all, of our schools will be in much better shape by the end of August."
