Dear Source,
Approximately 10 years ago, then-Education Commissioner Linda Creque failed to file a report on the expenditure of federal funds in a timely manner, which resulted in the return of approximately $100,000 to the federal government.
Fast forwarding 10 years into the new millennium, Education Commissioner Ruby Simmons explains that the loss of accreditation to the territory's high schools was due to her failure to sort her mail carefully, which caused her department to not respond to the Middle States Association accreditation committee in a timely manner.
How long are the people of the Virgin Islands are going to accept these ludicrous and comical excuses!
Administration after administration, the children of the Virgin Islands continue to suffer from an inept, outdated, and poorly managed public educational system.
To add insult to injury, our students continue to rank near last on every national standardized science, math and reading test. The lack of accreditation only confirms that the entire educational system, and its body, has not only hit rock bottom but has begun the process of disintegrating.
The warranty on excuses has expired. As Lee Iacoca, former Chrysler Corp. chairman, once stated in a popular advertising campaign, "It's time to lead, follow or get out of the way."
Eric Pena
Brooklyn, NY
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