Dept. of Education Impresses Board of Education With In-Person Learning Readiness Ahead of Tuesday's Reopening for Some Students

V.I. Department of Education officials told the V.I. Board of Education during an emergency meeting Wednesday called by the V.I. B.O.E., that school campuses territory-wide will be ready for the return of Pre K-3rd grade students, Special Education self-contained classes, and Career & Technical Education students enrolled in a specific career pathway on September 7.

The emergency meeting follows a press release issued by the board chastising the Dept. of Education for what the board said was an attempt by the department to evade requirements necessary for the safety of students and staff in a pandemic environment.

Even so, at the end of the meeting, the board left impressed with preparatory actions detailed by D.O.E. superintendents.

Board Chairman Kyza Callwood sought to learn how many students would be returning to each campus on Tuesday. Education Commissioner Raquel Berry Benjamin said an accurate figure would be tabulated from the daily attendance when students return. However, she gave totals related to eligible students returning by grade level.

There were 86 Pre-K students, 610 Kindergartners, 727 1st-grade students, 734 2nd-grade students, and 761 3rd-grade students eligible to return to in-person learning, according to Ms. Berry-Benjamin.

She said last year parents indicated they were comfortable sending their children back to in-person learning in the pandemic environment, however many of those parents changed their minds, which is one of the reasons an official figure could not be provided.

St. Croix

In terms of preparation specific to limiting the spread of Covid-19, Superintendent for the St. Croix District, Carlos McGregor, said, “All of our schools were deep-cleaned and sanitized with contracts in place for this to take place quarterly… all schools received electrostatic sprayers with the accompanying disinfecting liquid solution; all schools received the necessary PPEs, dispenser, soap, sanitizer, paper towel, temperature scanning machines and signage. All schools have installed additional hand-washing stations, all schools have filling stations for water drinking purposes and this Friday all schools will receive two pallets of bottled water... Every teacher’s desk has plexiglass barrier and all PreK to 3rd grade students have a plexiglass trifold at their desk.”

Mr. McGregor further stated that there were adequate teachers, though he spoke of two vacant school nurse positions due to retirement. To that end, current nurses will be rotating “to make sure all schools have a nurse until the vacancies are filled,” Mr. McGregor said. He said nurses in the St. Croix district “have been trained to administer Covid-19 related testing when necessary."

“All schools in the district have developed a Covid-19 action plan specific to their school and their campuses,” Mr. McGregor said.

He concluded by conveying to the B.O.E., parents and students in the St. Croix district, “We are ready to re-engage, reignite and recover learning.”

While parents have the option of allowing their children to continue learning virtually, Mr. McGregor strongly encouraged that eligible students return to the in-person environment. “Research shows the most effective teaching and learning happens when students and teachers are physically in the classroom," he said.

St. Thomas

Stefan Jurgen, superintendent of the St. Thomas district, said the top priority when making the decision to physically return to campuses was the health and safety of students and staff.

He said D.O.E. worked in collaboration with the local health department, federal health agencies, key community partners and the Office of the Governor to plan a safe reopening. He added, “Schools will practice logistics of social distancing, temperature checks, Covid-19 antigen and PCR testing for students, meal distribution and other aspects of campus life to ensure compliance and efficiency.”

Mr. Jurgen said safety signage has been posted throughout campuses to inform students and staff of safety protocols. He also mentioned that hand-washing and bottle-filling stations have been installed on all of campuses. Additionally, PPEs are available for all schools and plexiglass shields have been purchased for students' desks and staff.

“A significant amount of planning and preparation has occurred over the summer to prepare for students to return to all schools," he said.

Like Mr. McGregory, Mr. Jurgen also encouraged parents to send eligible students to the in-person learning environment.

Student Covid Testing

Victor Somme, assistant D.O.E. commissioner, was questioned by the board chair relative Covid testing for students. Mr. Somme said students who presented symptoms of the virus would be tested.

He explained that any testing of children needs parental consent, and that D.O.E.'s legal counsel has been working on a universal consent form which could be revocable if a parent wishes to revoke consent at a later time.

With guidance from the V.I. Department of Health and approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “At the end of every month we will be doing a PCR test on 10 percent of the student population at each school," he said.

Mr. Somme said this was important so as to help the Dept. of Health gauge for trends in schools and to continue contact tracing.

School nurses will perform the tests on students who exhibit symptoms as well as the monthly 10 percent testing of student population. Mr. Somme reiterated, “If your child is sick, your child should not be in school.”

Board of Education members were impressed with both presentations by each superintendent.

District-Wide Guidelines

Return to In-Person Learning

Schools that open for in-person learning on Sept. 7 will revert to virtual learning, if guided by the VIDOH to do so, should an increase in COVID-19 cases impact in-person operations

Students or staff exhibiting any signs of illness should remain home and seek medical attention

The Department of Education has equipped its schools with the necessary technology to seamlessly move from in-person operations to virtual operations when necessary

All students needing a laptop or MiFi internet device have been issued these items -additional MiFi devices will be made available in early September

Students are required to be dressed in full uniform while on campus

Visitors, including parents, are not allowed on school premises without an appointment