The Department of Education’s Special Nutrition Programs Tri-Annual Socio-Economic Survey conducted by the University of the Virgin Islands Eastern Caribbean Centeris currently underway. The three part studydetermines the income level of the territory’s student population and the level of federal funding received for various nutrition and other education programs, including technology purchases, according to a press release from Education Commissioner Dr. La Verne Terry.
Because the federal government bases funding decisions on a community’s ‘ability to pay, information must be collected about the income levels of the households V.I. students represent. This can only be achieved by taking a thorough look at up-to-date information for households in the territory. A total of 64, K-12 public, private and parochial schools across the territory are participating in Phase I of the survey, which is taking place during scheduled lunch periods. Some parents will also be asked to participate in a household survey. The one page questionnaire is similar to the one used by the Census, but much narrower in scope. The primary socio-economic data requested is the combined income of each household, and the number of persons per household.
Commissioner Terry said, “A key element of the study of which the public should be aware is that the names of students and families will notbe identifiable. Strict confidentiality will be maintained with all the information gathered. The study is only intended to reflect an accurate picture of food consumption versus the community’s overall economic ability to support itself.
Parents are asked to please check with their child’s school to see when the survey questionnaire will be distributed and then to check with their children toward completion and return to the school. Surveys can also be mailed to the address on the accompanying envelope. All information will be kept confidential. The results of the survey can impact all of the children public and private school children in the territory who participate in the school lunch and breakfast programs. Therefore, we strongly encourage and greatly appreciate your participation in this important survey.”
For more information, contact Dr. Frank Mills at the UVI Eastern Caribbean Center at 693-1020 or Elodia Weekly at the State Office of Special Nutrition at 774-9373.
