Report on the VI Board of Education

The year 2017 began with hope for the new beginning. There was new leadership in the Board and new leadership in the agency, but the year developed into unexpected challenges for the VI Board of Education.

High expectations, hope and anticipation turned to anxiety, to disbelief, to anger and disappointment, and then to determination. The leadership of the Board and of the agency was both removed.

On October 13, 2017, I was elected Vice chair of the Board, and Chair Terrence Joseph appointed me to Chair the Public Private Liaison Standing Committee.

Several proposals submitted to the Board on behalf of the committee had favorable results.

1. For the first time, May 4, 2018, the VI Board of Education will honor a Teacher of the year, St. Croix and a Teacher of the Year, St. Thomas-St. John on Teacher's Day as legislated in Title 1 section 174 (a).

2. The Board accepted a proposal to invite two Student council presidents (one from each district) to attend and participate in VIBE's Regular Board meetings. They will be the voice of the students, but they cannot vote.

3. The Board accepted a proposal for reinstatement of a Not for Profit organization.

The status may increase the probability of attaining donations for scholarships because of tax exemption. The status will also make it possible to compete for grants to support the students.

Obviously, the greatest challenge this year is the Recovery from Hurricane Maria.

The St. Croix office of the Board at Sunny Isle was a total loss. Chair Joseph is working to finalize the lease for new office property # 6 King Street, Christiansted, directly across from Florence Williams Library. The building has advantages, location, location, location. It is on King Street, across from the main public library, one block from the government house, two blocks from a Post Office, three blocks from the downtown seaplane, and next door to a very popular restaurant which generates diverse foot traffic by VIBE doors. The office building and the meeting room in the yard are handicap accessible. The property has a generator, and it has a yard to secure both vehicles.

The St. Thomas office fared better from the hurricane. There is a breach in the roof for which estimates are being solicited. The leak caused water damages on the second floor. Both offices phone lines are inoperable making service to the public difficult. The positive is both district offices are insured.  The Board has provided AED Emmett Hansen in St. Croix and Director Alcinta DeWindt in St. Thomas with cellular phones for office communications. The numbers are (340) 473-7542 and 473-7596 respectively. Communication by email is workable. example: mmoorhead@myviboe.com

To comply with Governor Mapp's message to rebuild better, VIBE needs to adjust its budget to address recovery. This recovery is an opportunity to supply, to install resources, and equipments necessary to function at high productivity in service to the public. Kudos to Douglas Canton for assisting VIBE to make best choices in information technology. We pray VIBE's insurance claim is processed expeditiously because the STX office has no furnitures nor equipment to operate.

It is being planned for the National Association of State Boards of Education to provide VIBE in early February with Broadsmanship training aligned to their needs to serve the community.

In March, VIBE hopes to introduce the community to Khan Academy. The Board wants to bring Salman Khan, founder and creator of an online free supportive academy, to introduce the benefits of his academy.

The proposal for NASBE training and the interaction with Khan were both benefits of attending and networking NASBE conference this past November in Atlanta. It was a great conference!

The finance and budget division of VIBE has not provided the Board with a comprehensive financial report for several months. It is said the ERP is in Recovery mode and will not provide an accurate distribution report. There hasn't been a report of VIBE expenses since July.  This creates a challenge to perform my fiduciary oversight duty of the agency. As electric supply stabilizes throughout the Executive Branch, hopefully the ERP system will also.

The finance system of the Executive branch affected the administrative service of VIBE 2017 Scholarships Grant Program; the finance process and the hurricane seriously delayed the distribution of scholarship checks. There were circumstances beyond the control of VIBE, but nonetheless, on behalf of the Board, accept an apology for ANY unforeseen circumstances that may have been caused. The 2018 VIBE Scholarships Grant Program will begin application process in the month of January as usual. The Scholarships grant application will be available on VIBE's website: www.myviboe.com

The Board received two requests for Appeal this year. Because the requests were received during recovery period, and communication is difficult, the hearings are waiting for consensus on dates.

The parents and students of the public elementary and secondary schools need an opportunity to be heard.  They are the primary advocates for quality education. The St. Croix officials of the Department of Education said they plan to have meetings with each PTA, so I did not propose for VIBE Public Private Liaison Committee to host town meetings.

The leadership of the VI Board of Education wrote several letters to Commissioner McCollum requesting to be invited to her planning discussions about the public school system, and requesting to meet to discuss the recovery of the public school system.

On the issue of public school makeup days, it is my opinion that if government employees work on December 27, 28, 29, and January 3, 4, and 5, then the days should be public school makeup days.

Following are some suggestions that were offered to DOE officials:

1. Have school Counselors available for HS students after the morning sessions. Provide for some extra-curricula activities.

2. Keep cutting the grass at school campuses that are closed. It may deter vandalism, the growth of rodents and other unhealthy and unsafe things, and it demonstrates more caring, concern and importance of public education.

3. Make a request to Department of Health Environmental Health division to fumigate the active public school campuses after the PM sessions close to control the growth of mosquitos.

4. Ask FEMA to give students three (3) MRE and bottle waters to take home at the end of the school week.

Please citizens, do your civic duty: participate in a public school parent organization.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve.

Mary L. Moorhead
VIBE Member, STX district.