Committee on Education and Workforce Development

The Committee on Education and Workforce Development has scheduled a meeting to receive testimony and consider the following bills:

 Block I                 10:15 AM-11:30 AM

 Bill No. 34-0097-An Act repealing and re-enacting title 17 Virgin Islands Code,

chapter 11, section 130, relating to authority to discipline pupils in schools; and

repealing title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 9, subchapter I, section 87,

relating to punishment of pupils by school officials

Sponsored by Senators Janelle K. Sarauw and Genevieve R. Whitaker

 

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Racquel Berry Benjamin, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Nisha de Jean Charles, Psychotherapist, Buoyant Living Psychotherapy

Block II                11:35 AM-1:00 PM

Bill No. 34-0091-An Act amending title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 41 relating to the courses of study in public schools to address gaps in education curriculum and workforce development by adding home economics, equine studies, information technology and by creating a reporting mechanism for the development and implementation for curriculum

Sponsored by Senator Genevieve R. Whitaker

 Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Racquel Berry Benjamin, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Dr. Michael T. Francois, Chairman, Virgin Islands Board for Career & Technical Education

Kyza A. Callwood, Chairman, Virgin Islands Board of Education

 Bill No. 34-0094-An Act amending, title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 3, section 24(a)(2)(2) to establish and mandate stakeholder engagement and participation in the development of a report for the annual assessment and evaluation of all public-school facilities; and adding subsection (e) to require stakeholders to hold townhall meetings on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John

Sponsored by Senator Genevieve R. Whitaker

Invited Testifiers:

Honorable Racquel Berry Benjamin, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Education

Dr. Michael T. Francois, Chairman, Virgin Islands Board for Career & Technical Education

Kyza A. Callwood, Chairman, Virgin Islands Board of Education

LUNCH               1:10 PM-1:40 PM

BLOCK III          1:45 PM-3:00 PM

Testimony from the Department of Labor on a status update on the Unemployment Insurance, Wage Loss Assistance Program, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, Summer Employment payments

Invited Testifier:

Honorable Gary A. Molloy, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of Labor