The Department of Education’s New Schools Advisory Committee will hold a series of meetings in October to share its current work and to gain public input on the planning and construction of new and modernized public schools in the territory, D.O.E. made known Thursday.
Meetings will be held from 6-8 p.m. on designated dates on all three islands.
The 50-member committee, comprised of D.O.E. employees, elected officials, business owners, community activists, parents, students and other community members on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, was established in January 2019 and is required to follow stringent federal guidelines to ensure the appropriation of funds to construct new public schools or modernize existing schools, the department said.
“This is an exciting time for the Department of Education where we get to share the first phase of the important work that has gone into making the construction of new schools a reality in the Virgin Islands,” said D.O.E. Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin. “We are in the very early stages of this work, but we are making the right progress and look forward to gaining the public’s input at these meetings.”
The meetings are expected to be interactive, with attendees participating in small-group discussions, planning sessions, surveys and other activities. All are encouraged to attend, according to the department.
Below, the schedule for the upcoming meetings:
ST. JOHN
October 16
V.I. Legislature Hall
6-8 p.m.
ST. THOMAS
October 17
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Cafeteria
6-8 p.m.
October 22
Charlotte Amalie High School Auditorium
6-8 p.m.
October 24
UVI Sports & Fitness Center
6-8 p.m.
ST. CROIX
October 28
Claude O. Markoe Elementary School Cafeteria
6-8 p.m.
October 29
Juanita Gardine K-8 School Auditorium
6-8 p.m.
October 30
St. Croix Central High School Cafeteria
6-8 p.m.
Feature Image: A concept of a modern school; not necessarily an example of what is expected to be built in the territory.