With less than two weeks before the first day of school, the Virgin Islands Legislature’s Education and Workforce Development Committee has released its assessment of public school readiness following inspections of campuses across St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, according to press releases from the committee.
On July 28, legislators joined Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance officials on St. Thomas to review conditions at Charlotte Amalie High School, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, Edith Williams Alternative School, Lockhart K – 8, Joseph Sibilly Elementary and Annex, and Ulla Muller Elementary School. While some campuses reported visible progress — including freshly painted classrooms, resurfaced basketball courts, upgraded kitchen equipment, and improved technology access — several persistent issues remain unresolved, according to the press release.
Air conditioning failures, incomplete roofing projects, and recurring mold concerns were reported at multiple sites. Some classrooms and cafeterias are still without functioning cooling systems, and mold remediation in modular units and older buildings is incomplete. Contractor payment delays have stalled major projects at Edith Williams Alternative School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, while staffing shortages persist in key academic areas such as science, math, Virgin Islands history, and English language arts. Custodial staff levels are also well below what administrators say is needed for adequate upkeep, the press release stated.
On St. Croix, a July 29 tour covered 10 campuses, including Claude O. Markoe Elementary, Eulalie Rivera K – 8, Ricardo Richards Elementary, Alfredo Andrews Elementary, Lew Muckle Elementary, Juanita Gardine K – 8, Pearl B. Larsen PreK – 8, John H. Woodson Jr. High, St. Croix Educational Complex High School, and St. Croix Central High School. Officials found many of the same concerns noted during a January 2025 district tour still unresolved, the release stated.
At John H. Woodson Jr. High School, mold remediation remains incomplete, with updated testing still pending. Alfredo Andrews Elementary reported kitchen readiness issues, including a leaking chill box, a nonfunctional milk cooler, and missing ceiling tiles. At the Educational Complex, FEMA-funded AC units have arrived but installation is ongoing, alongside electrical upgrades and roof patching. Safety hazards were noted at Juanita Gardine and Pearl B. Larsen, where condemned walkways, damaged restrooms, and unfinished roof repairs remain. No school in the district had completed a full deep cleaning at the time of inspection, the release stated.
In both districts, legislators stressed the need for timely contractor payments, stronger interagency coordination, and sustained oversight to prevent last-minute work from becoming the norm. “These walk-throughs are not about placing blame — they’re about getting answers and getting results,” said Sen. Kurt Vialet, committee chair. “We can’t keep patching problems two weeks before school opens. This is about long-term, sustainable improvements for our students and teachers.”
Vialet added that the committee will conduct follow-up walk-throughs during the opening week of school and continue pressing for both short-term fixes and long-term capital improvements. “The students of the Virgin Islands deserve better than a last-minute scramble,” he said. “They deserve classrooms that work.”
