ST. THOMAS — The Department of Education late Sunday announced key changes for schools in the St. Thomas-St. John District that will take effect in the 2019-2020 school year.
Most notably, the department said, two of the district’s previous K-6 elementary schools will now accommodate students in grades K-5; the district’s previous primary K-3 model will now accommodate students in grades K-5; one district school will cease operations as an elementary school, but will reopen as another educational institution; and new start and end times have been set for all district schools to better accommodate bus schedules, as well as after-school programs and activities for students.
There are no uniform changes for the 2019-2020 school year in the St. Thomas-St. John District, D.O.E. said.
St. Thomas-St. John Insular Superintendent Stefan Jürgen said the basis for changes in his district was similar to that of the St. Croix District, including alleviating long-standing employee shortages coupled with a decreased student population, eliminating use of aging and damaged school buildings, and reducing operational costs.
D.O.E. Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin expressed her satisfaction with the action the department has taken in making changes to the operations of its schools. “I am pleased with the work we have done over the last six months to thoroughly assess our schools and make the tough, but necessary decision to move forward in a more sustainable way that will benefit our students,” she said.
Full details below:
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