De Jongh Signs Bill Appropriating $2 Million To Purchase Text Books For Public Schools

Governor de Jongh has taken action on numerous measures tied to the fiscal year 2015 budget bill, signing 45 and vetoing two in the process.

While there are other measures the Governor hasn’t dealt with as yet–namely the controversial ‘Streetlights Bill’, which would give the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority the power to charge customers for streetlights usage–there is some good news for the Department of Education, as Governor de Jongh has signed Bill No. 30-0496, which authorizes the appropriation of $2 million for the purchasing of text books for the current 2014-2015 school year. 

De Jongh said the measure falls in line with his administration’s efforts to better the literacy rate in the territory.

“[The Bill is] consistent with my Administration’s efforts towards improving the Virgin Islands’ literacy rate and ensuring greater access to educational tools,” he wrote in his transmittal letter to Senate President Shawn-Michael Malone.

The bill was sponsored by Senators Janette Millin Young and Kenneth Gittens and outlined the subjects for which the money will be spent to purchase books. They include English Language Arts, Social Studies and Mathematics for public school students in both the St. Croix and St.Thomas-St. John districts.

To view the full bill, go here.