- Target:
- Governor De Jongh
- Region:
- Virgin Islands
- Website:
- www.edline.net
Today, United States Virgin Islands Education Commissioner Donna Frett-Gregory officially announced the closing of Guy H. Benjamin Elementary School for the 2014-15 year at a meeting with GBS staff and parents this afternoon in Coral Bay.
There were meetings about what St. John residents wished to do for the children of the island in regards to their schooling and all requests and comments ignored. Teachers & Staff were told at 3 pm of its closing and at 5:30 pm met with parents to tell them the same.
They are stating that since 'enrollment has dropped' which technically is not so, they relocated all K and 1st graders across the island to Julius Sprauve School in Cruz Bay at the start of the 2013-2014 school year and many parents enrolled their older siblings to travel the long ride and better supervise the little ones so the numbers decreased, of course.
I taught music at Guy Benjamin and Sprauve Schools as an itinerant teacher for 10 years from 1983 - 1993 and rarely did we have 100 students it was usually around 90 and they never closed it before. They said they needed 100 students to remain open and didn't so they are closing the school.
However, two development groups have coincidental plans for large scale marinas, one adjacent with a resort and the other near Island Blues approximately 500 yards away.
St. John has been promised since the 80's that they would one day have a High School and better school facilities by relocating Julius Sprauve School out of the bustling port of Cruz Bay into the country to 10 acres which was designated for schools. All idle promises and conditions only worsening.
Guy Benjamin has had an excellent history of high achievement for the entire territory and moving these children to Cruz Bay is more hardship on struggling families who cannot least afford private school education to give their children the skills to compete in our global society one day.
On the wave of the fact Senator Craig Barshinger is saying this administration has stolen $4 million from St John Capitol Fund and demanding answers, they have added insult to injury. More on Barshinger's claims: http://www.stjohntradewindsnews.com/index.php/component/content/article/602-news/2014-06-news/8970-barshinger-displays-anger-demands-accounting-of-st-john-capital-fund
SEND a strong message to the Governor, DON'T CLOSE GUY BENJAMIN SCHOOL!
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The End Government Corruption, SAVE GUY BENJAMIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! petition to Governor De Jongh was written by Anna Fisher and is in the category Education at GoPetition.