Governor Bryan Advocates for Historic PreK-12 School in St. John

In a landmark State of the Territory address, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. showcased his dedication to the development of St. John, particularly emphasizing his commitment to education. The governor’s speech, marked by a forward-looking vision, primarily focused on the groundbreaking plan to establish the first government-run PreK-12 school on the island.

Governor Bryan addressed the longstanding disputes between St. John residents and the National Park Service over land rights and recognition, acknowledging the issue during his sixth State of the Territory address. He empathized with the St. Johnians’ concerns regarding the Park Service’s impact on their lives. More significantly, he highlighted the struggles faced by St. John’s youth in accessing high school education, necessitating travel to other islands.

The governor shed light on the recent strategic exchange of Whistling Cay for 11 acres in Estate Catherineberg, a pivotal move to facilitate the construction of the K-12 school. This decision, Governor Bryan argued, is a justified and essential step towards ensuring fair and accessible education for St. John’s students. “The necessity of traveling for education is not only unfair but places our youth at a disadvantage,” Governor Bryan firmly stated, underlining the importance of this development.

Governor Bryan also discussed his direct engagement with the National Park Service, including talks with current and former park superintendents and Secretaries of the Interior, to address the issues of perceived unfair treatment by the NPS.

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