The Board of Education has offered to mediate in the impasse between the V.I. government and the striking American Federation of Teachers union, but the government does not want them involved, board members said.
Executive Director Evadney Hodge said Thursday that at a meeting earlier this week, board members decided to offer their support to mediate the ongoing differences.
However, she said, the government indicated that the board should not be involved in the process.
"The board disagrees with [the government's] position, but the board realizes that it cannot force its way into that area of negotiations," Hodge said.
Chairman Keith Richards said the board viewed itself as an independent party and its role could be one of negotiator. "We thought we could look at all the information and try to hammer out an amicable agreement," he said.
The teachers' union, he said, has not responded, but the "offer remains on the table."
Other than the offer made to the government and the AFT, Richards said he ddid not see any other role for the board to play. "We have made the call for the community to do what it can to end the strike and return the teachers and students back to the classrooms," he said.
