In a bid to reassure residents ahead of Monday’s public school openings, the V.I. Education Department released walkthrough videos featuring inspection teams, including Board of Education and Environmental Health representatives, assessing several campuses.
Despite the efforts this week to highlight progress, faculty and staff shared their own images Wednesday, broken ceiling tiles and chairs among them, claiming the campuses are not yet ready for students.
In a call with the Source Wednesday, Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington highlighted critical concerns, noting, “New schools in old buildings are just not going to happen. Safety issues have to be addressed first,” she said, emphasizing the priority of addressing fundamental problems before cosmetic improvements.
Wells-Hedrington added the department has had to be clear and intentional with how it spent its local dollars, and sought additional funding from the U.S. Department of Education, successfully reprogramming over $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to tackle longstanding maintenance issues. This funding will support various projects, including perimeter fencing, security cameras, and the purchase of AED machines and first aid kits for classrooms, she said.
Of course, challenges will persist, she said, citing, in particular, issues with the modular classrooms that continue to be in use beyond their five-year warranty. “We’re seeing the most concern from the modular units, with deteriorating joints and roofing problems,” she explained.
Several classrooms, including 10 at Charlotte Amalie High School, have been closed due to these issues. Efforts are underway to relocate the skill center to the ninth-grade academy to free up temporary classroom spaces and similar concerns at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School are being addressed, with administrators ensuring air quality clearance before use, she said.
Air conditioning problems also plague the schools, exacerbated by the summer heat. Wells-Hedrington confirmed that non-functioning units are being ordered off-island, but those schools that were closed over the summer are now revealing malfunctioning units upon reopening.
Maintenance issues are ongoing, and the department is working with available resources. The newly established Education Maintenance Bureau is developing a comprehensive maintenance plan for the modular units, which will be presented to the Legislature and governor, Wells-Hedrington said.
Kitchen installations at several schools, including Lew Muckle and Eulalie Rivera, have faced delays, but satellite meal distribution will ensure students receive meals on time, she said.
Central High School on St. Croix remains a significant concern due to roofing challenges. “Once the contract for the new build of Central is signed, we plan to involve contractors in addressing the existing campus issues,” Wells-Hedrington said, adding that collaboration with vendors continues to meet the territory’s needs.
“Once the school year begins, I meet regularly with unions and educational administration associations to discuss ongoing concerns,” she said, recounting her immediate reaction to recent images of classroom neglect at Charlotte Amalie High School and being able to address the issues with the principal directly.
“I’ve dealt with maintenance concerns for over 30 years,” Wells-Hedrington said. “We keep pushing to ensure a safe environment and battling through those issues to ensure a good working and learning environment.”
