The St. Croix Federation of Teachers on Thursday rejected the Department of Education’s proposed calendar, which would begin the 2014-15 school year two weeks earlier than it traditionally has.
The dispute has been simmering since the Senate passed Title 17, Section 61, which would start the school year two weeks early, allowing the semester to be finished before winter break and the St. Croix Crucian Christmas Festival. Having an extended holiday break shortly before finals is detrimental to student success, backers said.
Gov. John deJongh vetoed the bill in March, but the Senate overrode the veto over the objections of the Department of Education.
On Wednesday, the department met with union representatives to attempt to work out a solution, while a small number of teachers picketed in front of Addelita Cancryn Junior High School on St. Thomas.
In a statement issued Thursday, the St. Croix AFT acknowledged that the department has authority in constructing the calendar "in consultation with the AFT and other stakeholders and ultimately with the approval of the governor." But the union argued Education cannot arbitrarily cut 10 days off the teachers’ contractually established vacation.
"The majority of the St. Croix Federation of Teachers membership has conveyed that they will not be reporting to work in early August if they are not going to be fully compensated for time worked prior to the start-up of the school year 2014- 2015," the union said in its statement.
The teachers’ summer vacation is accrued for work performed in the current school year. Having the coming school calendar impinge on that time amounts to a reduction of benefits for the current year, the union said.
"Retroactive pay is not an option. We vehemently reject the proposed vacation days being offered. While we sincerely care about the future of our students which we serve and public education in the territory, the bottom line is we work 180 days and demand to be justly compensated."
The teachers’ union said it was appealing to members of the 30th Legislature and Sen. Donald Cole, chairman of the Committee on Education and Workforce Development, to convene a session to identify funds or amend Title 17, Section 61.
Education Commissioner Donna Frett-Gregory, in a statement issued Wednesday, said the department understands the teachers’ concerns, but that her hands have been tied by the Legislature.
"While we understand that there are concerns about the calendar, the department is charged with setting the school calendar and must structure the calendar according to law," Frett-Gregory said. "Our first duty is to our students – and making sure they are not shortchanged the time they need in the classroom by not receiving the requisite number of instructional hours.
Addressing the Senate on April 7, she suggested the new school calendar could start two weeks early, as the current law specifies, and the Christmas break be extended to make up for it.
“Ultimately the department has been compelled to identify creative ways of restructuring the calendar in order to meet the new requirements,” she said. "Keeping in mind our unions’ concerns, we have worked on a strategy that is primarily focused on giving our students the 1,080 hours of instructional time that is mandated by the Virgin Islands Code.”
“The proposal includes the early start date for school, extends the Christmas break by another week, and includes professional development days for teachers that have been in previous years agreed upon by the union and the department,” Frett-Gregory said.
