ST. THOMAS, VI - The Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance, led by Senator Novelle E. Francis, Jr. met in the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall. Lawmakers received testimony regarding proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budgets from the Department of Education, Board of Education, Virgin Islands Career & Technical Education Board, and Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance. 

Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Education, Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington, presented a recommended FY 2027 General Fund appropriation of $186,691,691, which marks a 4.11 percent increase over the previous fiscal cycle. The financial request focuses heavily on personnel liabilities, allocating $109,374,557 to personnel services and $60,408,720 to fringe benefits to sustain 1,987 full-time active positions and manage rising healthcare premiums. The department made deep internal spending cuts including cutting locally funded office supplies down to zero, shrinking professional contracts by 15.44 percent, and cutting local funding for after-school sports and adult education scholarships. The department has also implemented stricter rules to better manage its $33.7 million in federal grants. 

The department is moving forward with a $3.5 billion construction program to rebuild and modernize local schools with federal disaster funds. A major milestone will happen this August 2026 with the opening of the new Arthur A. Richards PreK-8 School, which is the first new school campus built in the territory in over 30 years. Additionally, crews finished tearing down buildings "A," "B," and "C" at Charlotte Amalie High School this summer, clearing the way for the next phase of construction. 

To fight severe teacher shortages, the department is working hard to find new staff after losing 122 teachers to retirement or resignation. Job interviews in May successfully secured 51 new teachers for the upcoming school year. The department also started a "Grow Your Own" program with the University of the Virgin Islands to help 20 local school aides take online classes to become certified teachers.  

Chairman of the Board of Education, Dr. Kyza A. Callwood, testified in support of the board’s $2,137,697 budget request. This request keeps the board's funding at the same level as last year to maintain financial stability. The board operates out of two offices with 18 total employees. VIBE is currently working to fill several open staff positions and is cross training its current workers. 

The board also highlighted major facility updates and student programs. VIBE is currently repairing its rented office on St. Croix and continues to search for a new permanent location. On St. Thomas, the board spent $53,994 on driveway and roof repairs for its government-owned headquarters. For students, VIBE received a record 768 scholarship applications this year after expanding its community outreach. The territory's scholarship fund was supported by $1.55 million in local funding, along with an extra $370,000 from local businesses through the Economic Development Commission program. 

The board addressed student loan collections and teacher shortages. VIBE is currently tracking $1.28 million in overdue student loans, noting that many accounts are over 20 years old and difficult to collect because borrowers relocated or passed away. To keep teachers in local classrooms, the board extended its "Educator Amnesty Initiative" until December 31, 2026. This program makes it easier for teachers to keep working by giving them three extra years to finish their full certifications and cutting their required training hours from 125 down to 75. 

Executive Director Genevieve Whitaker presented the Board for Career and Technical Education’s budget request under a strict ceiling of $689,681. However, Whitaker made it clear that this capped amount does not cover the reality of what local vocational programs require to survive, stating that the board's total programmatic need is $2,654,168. This leaves the agency facing a massive funding gap of $1,964,487. The agency employs a small core staff across both districts including the Executive Director and three Administrative Assistants positions. 

The testimony highlighted the board's work in promoting trade skills and helping local students. So far, 29 students have applied for the board's two specialized college and technical school scholarships. The board has helped guide 189 high schoolers and lead 151 adult trade graduates toward graduation. To connect students directly with jobs, the board teamed up with local construction companies, community sectors, government agencies, and created an elective class to introduce junior high students to careers in teaching. 

Whitaker shared the results of a recent territory-wide survey. The survey found that local schools need significant financial support for basic supplies, including $300,000 for textbooks on St. Croix, $176,596 for building and mechanical trade tools, and $250,000 to expand virtual reality job training. Whitaker urged the committee to view future funding as a necessary investment to give students the updated tools and training required for real-world jobs. 

The Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance Executive Director, Craig Benjamin, presented the agency's budget request and updated the committee on ongoing territory-wide school repairs. Benjamin recommended a $5,986,415 general fund operating budget, which exclusively covers salaries and benefits for the bureau's 70 funded positions. To perform physical maintenance and repairs, the bureau relies on a separate statutory capital fund that requires a minimum annual allocation of $5 million, bringing the agency's total requested budget to $10,986,415. 

The bureau managed over $40 million in infrastructure investments in the last two fiscal years. This included successfully spending $13.7 million in federal ARPA funds before the March 2026 expiration deadline. For everyday school upkeeps this year, the agency invested $6.76 million, with 68% of the funds directed to St. Croix schools and 32% to the St. Thomas and St. John district. This money funded everyday services like landscaping and pest control, as well as HVAC & Electrical Repairs, roof repairs and preventive maintenance, 

The bureau faced major financial shortfalls and operational hurdles despite these achievements. The agency received only $3 million of its legally mandated $5 million maintenance fund this year, creating a $2 million gap that forced the bureau to spend 85% of its budget on emergency fixes rather than preventative care. The bureau also lacks funding to lease a permanent warehouse space to centralize its tools and bulk supplies, particularly on St. Croix. Looking forward, Director Benjamin noted that if the government finds extra money, the Bureau has already identified $8.84 million in urgent, unfunded safety and electrical projects that still need to be addressed. 

Senators present at today’s committee hearing were Novelle E. Francis Jr., Marvin A. Blyden, Angel L. Bolques, Jr., Dwayne M. DeGraff, Kenneth L. Gittens, Ray Fonseca, Hubert L. Frederick, Marise C. James, Carla J. Joseph, and Kurt A. Vialet. 

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