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Bryan Justifies Land Swap for First PreK-12 School: Largest Public Sector Investment in St. John's History
During Monday’s State of the Territory address, while Governor Albert Bryan Jr. gave passing mention of plans to rehabilitate roads and damaged government facilities on St. John, his main focus with respect to the island during his speech was on concerns over the National Park Service and plans to construct a government-run school that can accommodate high school students.
In late December, residents of St. John complained to Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett over decades-long battles with the National Parks Service over land ownership and the appropriate recognition. Several complainants were in opposition to any new land being subsumed within National Park boundaries.
“I acknowledge the frustration and concerns of those St. Johnians that believe that the National Park Service has not been a good neighbor and has perhaps intruded on the quality of life of the native residents,” the governor said during his address, his sixth as governor. “But I also listened very intently to the concerns of students and former students talking about their experiences and the hardships of attending high school as a resident of St. John.”
