Feb. 12, 2008 — "Honk your horn if you support teachers!" shouted Julius E. Sprauve School teachers to motorists as they spent their lunch breaks Tuesday picketing outside the school.
Many drivers complied, leaning on their horns as they drove past.
At issue is the fact that the teachers are working without a signed contract. The American Federation of Teachers and government negotiators have "been at the table" since June 2007. The contract ended Aug. 31, 2007. Teacher Clemmie Moses said the contract was extended several times, with the most recent extension due to expire Feb. 22.
"Teachers are just fed up," she said.
A total of about 50 teachers took to the sidewalk, with the teachers taking shifts depending on when they had their lunch break.
Many mentioned their frustration with the unsigned contract, but also complained about the working conditions at Sprauve.
"People wouldn't keep their dog here," said Mary Jo Wilder, a ninth-grade English teacher.
The school lacks sufficient drinking water for students and enough outlets for computers, the sewage system backs up and the air-conditioning system breaks down, leaving the teachers and students to swelter in windowless, airless rooms, she said.
Long-time Sprauve School teacher Evan Williams said the school has no security, a situation that worries him given the number of incidents at mainland schools. He also said disruptive students pose additional challenges to teachers.
Low teacher salaries make it hard to recruit and keep teachers, said Bill Judkins, the Sprauve School union representative. The constant turnover of teachers is disruptive and leaves a hole in the students' learning, he said, though some choose to stay.
"But it's the kids that keep us here," Judkins said. "We're trying to do the right thing and be responsible people."
More than half the Sprauve teachers hold master's degrees, and some others have their doctorates, Wilder added.
"They are highly qualified and dedicated," she said. "That's what's keeping this place together."
Spanish teacher Jaime Lembach spoke about the high cost of living in the territory.
"I am only able to stay in the Virgin Islands because I spend money from savings," he said.
At every election candidates talk about how important kids are but fail to follow through on their pledges, said teacher Deborah Ferry.
"Teachers deserve a contract just like everyone else," she said.
Sprauve Principal Mario Francis said that as he sees it, the teachers want to let the "powers that be" know the cost of everything is going up.
"And they want to see their checks moving in a likewise direction," Francis said.
When asked if he supported the teachers in their Tuesday action, he hedged.
"I understand what they're doing," he said.
One passerby, Nancy Polucci, stopped to chat with the teachers. St. John needs a middle school, a high school and a trade school, she said.
Several students also wandered by. Kimisa Smith, 9, said she didn't have a clear understanding of the issues that brought the teachers to the sidewalk with their picket signs.
"But the school needs more money," she said.
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