Committee on Education and Workforce Development

The Committee on Education and Workforce Development will meet on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room to receive testimony on the status of funding for education, student test scores, learning loss, and the maintenance, upgrades, and rebuilding of territorial schools.

BLOCK I

Status of Federal Funds (ARPA, Cares Act, Consolidated Grants) and Imprest Funds
Analysis of student test scores for the 2023-2024 academic year
Strategies used to address learning loss
Status of entrance and exit exams
Plans to address the loss of instructional time due to abbreviated school schedules caused by severe heat
Status of afterschool programs and plans for summer programs

Invited Testifier:
Honorable Dionne Wells-Hedrington, EdD, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

 BLOCK II

Update on Arthur A. Richards School Rebuild
Status of the Claude O. Markoe Gymnasium
Status and timeline for completion of school kitchen equipment installation in the district of St. Croix
Status of electrical upgrades for territorial schools
Status of AC unit installations in schools affected by severe heat
Summer maintenance plan
Outline of process to report school-based maintenance issues (work order requests)

Invited Testifier:
Craig Benjamin, Executive Director, Bureau of School Construction & Maintenance