Mapp outlines plans for Charlotte Amalie High School reconstruction at St. Thomas town hall

Gov. Kenneth Mapp held a town hall meeting at the Charlotte Amalie High School Ruth E. Thomas Auditorium on October 16, 2018, to discuss plans for rebuilding public schools on St. Thomas, including Charlotte Amalie High School.

Mapp, Lt. Gov. Osbert Potter, Education Commissioner Sharon Ann McCollum and other Education Department officials said Charlotte Amalie High School could qualify for reconstruction funding under the amended Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The administration said the March 2018 amendment for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico addressed pre-disaster deferred maintenance issues affecting critical public buildings and allowed rebuilding to current international building code standards and codes regulated by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

During public comment, Charlotte Amalie High School vocational education teacher Iambakisye Richardson urged officials to rebuild more of the campus and proposed a five-story structure to house JROTC, career and technical education, business, health occupations and nursing programs, while freeing other space for core courses.

Attendees also raised issues including handicap accessibility, athletic facilities and other obstacles facing students. McCollum said the department planned to incorporate community input as it formed an advisory committee that would include teachers, students, community members and business representatives.

Education Department Chief of Staff Anthony Thomas said the October 16 meeting was the start of a longer public-engagement process and that additional forums would be held on plans to rebuild other public schools in the territory.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-mapp-discusses-plans-for-new-cahs-campus-and-territorys-schools-at-town-hall/