ST. CROIX – The Committee on Education and Workforce Development, chaired by Senator Kurt Vialet met in the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room. Lawmakers received an update from the Virgin Islands Department of Education concerning funding for education, student test scores, learning loss, and maintenance, upgrades, and rebuilding of territorial public schools.

Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Education delivered testimony. Wells-Hedrington stated that for the 2023-2024 School Year, English Language Arts (ELA) and Sciences have shown growth, having trended upwards the last two academic years. However, math scores have shown a need for additional resources. During the 2023-2024 School Year, 23.5% achieved grade level knowledge with a limited range of complexity (level 2) compared to the previous years, 19.7% and 17.2% of students were proficient. This was compared to prior previous years 13.1%. 6.1% exceeded standard compared to 4.0% the previous year.

In Math, 19.5% achieved grade level knowledge with a limited range of complexity (level 2), up from the previous year’s 15.4%. 6.3% of students achieved proficiency, compared to the previous year’s 4.1%. 2.4% exceeded grade level standards, compared to the previous year’s 1.0%. In Science, students in the territory showed significant growth of 28.2%, achieving grade level knowledge with a limited range of complexity (level 2), while 21.3% demonstrated proficiency. 15.3% exceeded grade level standards from the previous year’s 12.9%. Students who are in the emerging category improved by over 5%.

Wells-Hedrington stated that while data trends are encouraging, they are not where she would like them to be. However, according to the four categories for student performance, Below Standard, Near Standard, Met Standard, and Exceeded Standard, the Virgin Islands continues to follow national standards in learning. In the Below Standards Category, student performance increased from 57.8% in 2020-2021 to a peak of 67.8% in 2022-2023 but dropped to 60.2% in 2023-2024. In the Met Standard Category, students in both districts decreased from 13.8% in 2020-2021 to 9.3% in 2021-2022 and rebounded to 10.4% in 2023-2024. In the Exceeded Standards Category, the district dropped significantly from 8.6% in 2020-2021 to 3.9% in 2022-2023 but then rebounded to 8.1% in 2023-2024. In the Met & Exceeded category, students dropped from 22.3% in 2020-2021 to a low of 13.3% in 2022-2023 but then rebounded to 18.5% in 2023-2024. Achievement levels declined from 2020-2021 through 2022-2023, which has been linked to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Virgin Islands students are performing on par with national trend in Mathematics. During 2020-2023, the number of students performing below standards increased from 61.9% to 73.2%. This then improved to 63.3% in 2023-2024. Students who performed near standards remained stable from 17-19% from 2020-2023 and jumped to 22.6% in 2023-2024, stating that students improved from below to near standard. In the meeting to exceeding standard, there was a significant decline from 18.9% in 2020-2021 to 8.2% in 2022-2023. There was a decline in the students meeting and exceeding standards from 18.9% in 2021-22, 8.2% in 2022-2023, but there was a rebounded in 2023-2024 to 14.2%

In the St. Croix District, data has fluctuated during the last four years. Students have moved from 20.8%, drop to 11.3% in 2021-22, drop to 8.4%, and then increase to 14.8%. The proficiency level remains below the 2021-22 baseline of 20.8%. There is a high number of students performing below standards, but the data is showing improvement. 60.7% of students are below standard in 2020-2021. This increased to 71.9% in 2021-2022. In 2022-2023 it dropped to 65.5%. Near standard improved. In 2020-2021, 18.5% of students almost meet grade level performance standards. This however decreased to 16.8% in 2021-22, then improved to 19% 2022-23, then up slightly to 19.7 in 2023-2024.

In the St. Thomas-St. John District, there has been an overall performance decline of those exceeded or meeting standards since 2021. In 2020-2021, 21.6% of students met or exceeded standards. It dropped to 10.9% in 2022-2023, then rose slightly to 12.8% in 2022-2023 and then increased to 14.9% in 2023-2024. Below standard increased significantly to 71.9% in 2021-2022, which was up from 60.7% in 2020-2021. It rose again to 72.6% in 2022-2023 and dropped to 65.5% in 2023-2024. The district performed consistently in the Near Standard category, going from 18.3% in 2020-2021, to 3.4% in 2021-22, then to 2.7% in 2022-2023, then to 6.3% in 2023-2024. There was a performance decline and then a partial recovery in math between 2020-2024. Wells-Hedrington also voiced frustration over a recent break-in at the Eulalie Rivera School, where kitchen equipment was removed from the campus. Chair Kurt Vialet voiced concern over the recent removal of the equipment and called for its return, and for deeper scrutiny of Department of Education workers who have access to the school.

Additionally, Craig Benjamin, the Executive Director of the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance delivered testimony. The Department is currently proceeding with various implementation and transition processes. Operating procedures have been established to ensure the bureau’s operations are effective and efficient. Notices of Personnel Action (NOPAs) are being for employees transferred from the Department of Education to the Bureau. The Department has been developing positions held by the employees. The review will lead to the identification of positions that require revisions to align with the Department of Personnel’s standards. It is expected that the website for the Bureau will be fully operational during the first week of February. The Email system for the Department is also functional.

Maintenance at public schools is an ongoing priority for the Bureau. Several maintenance projects have been completed, which have included LED lighting throughout the exterior of the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, and the Lockhart Elementary School campuses on St. Thomas. The same improvements are scheduled to be implemented at the St. Croix Educational Complex and the Central High School on St. Croix. Air conditioning units have been replaced at the Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School Gymnasium as well as the Lockhart Elementary School cafeteria, and its administration building. Celling fans were removed from the St. Croix Educational Complex. Electrical upgrades are in process, with portable a/c units being delivered on the island. Once electrical upgrades are finished, the ac system will be installed. The project will be completed by the end of February 2025.

Mold testing is expected to be conducted at the John H. Woodson School in response to concerns about moldy smells in classrooms. A mold remediation and deep cleaning of affected classrooms was conducted on January 30^th. Benjamin stated that deep cleanings will be conducted in all schools across the territory and mold testing will occur every six months, and if mold is detected, remediation will occur. The Ricardo Richards School received a temporary roof repair and perimeter fencing. The perimeter fencing is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025. Playground upgrades have been completed at the Alfredo Andrews, Eulalie Rivera, and Claude O. Markoe Schools, with upgrades at the Pearl B. Larsen School 90% complete. It is expected that The New Arthur Richards School Construction project will be completed by July 31, 2026, according to the current schedule. The Claude O. Markoe School Gymnasium is being demolished with old bleachers having been demolished, with outdated electrical components being removed and new components being installed to support the new lighting and air conditioning. Delays have been encountered due to the absence of a purchase order at the time of the contract execution, but the project is expected to be completed by May 2025.

Additional upgrades are being conducted at various schools. The Claude O. Markoe Kitchen Renovation project is proceeding, and its currently 40% finished, and is expected to be completed by March 2025. Basketball courts are to be resurfaced at the Pearl B. Larsen, Ricardo Richards, Alfredo Andrews, Eulalie Rivera, and Lew Muckle Schools. The project is about 25% complete and is expected to be finished by March 2025. Key Infrastructure projects that have been completed include fencing repair at Edith Williams Alternative Academy, East End of Complex High Maintenance Building Repair and Painting, electrical upgrades, Youth Rehabilitation Center Modular Demolition and quarterly cleaning of all schools and activity centers.

Senators present at today’s Committee hearing included Kurt Vialet, Avery Lewis, Marvin A. Blyden, Dwayne M. Degraff, Alma Francis Heyliger, Novelle E. Francis, Jr., Hubert L. Frederick, Kenneth L. Gittens, Marise C. James, Franklin D. Johnson, Carla J. Joseph, Clifford Joseph, and Milton E. Potter.

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