The historic schooner Denis Sullivan is set to make its grand return to Christiansted Harbor this Sunday, marking the 18th season of World Ocean School’s enriching educational programs in St. Croix. Eden Leonard, President and Executive Director of World Ocean School, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming season, emphasizing the strong community support in St. Croix and the exciting opportunities awaiting the students.

St. Croix has been a vital part of World Ocean School’s history, a relationship that spans 18 years, initially with the Schooner Roseway. While the Roseway, a revered National Historic Landmark, undergoes extensive preservation in Mystic, CT, the Denis Sullivan has seamlessly stepped in. In 2022, the Denis Sullivan successfully hosted over 230 students in immersive multi-day educational programs and delighted over 1500 passengers with sunset and harbor sails.

This season, the Denis Sullivan aims to replicate its previous success, focusing on engaging St. Croix’s public school students. The onboard programs blend practical maritime skills, such as ship maintenance and sail raising, with teamwork and applied learning. The vessel’s crew, known as Deckhand Educators, are ready to embark on this season’s journey, offering hands-on lessons during the voyages. Ms. Leonard expressed her anticipation for the community’s engagement, recalling the warm reception the schooner received last year.

To celebrate its return, the Denis Sullivan will offer welcome sails to the public on November 30 and December 1, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in Christiansted Harbor. Additionally, sunset sails will be available through March. Proceeds from ticket sales on the World Ocean School’s website will support the educational initiatives on the island. In a gesture of gratitude, past and present students and their families are invited to enjoy these sails at no cost, as announced by the organization’s officials.

The escalating issue of violence in the Virgin Islands’ schools has reached a critical point, as highlighted by Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington during a Senate Committee on Education and Workforce Development hearing. The committee, led by Senate President Novelle Francis Jr., delved into various challenges plaguing the public school system, with a specific focus on the increasing incidents of aggression and violence.

Education leaders, including Dr. Ericilda Ottley Herman, the acting insular superintendent for the St. Croix district, acknowledged a distinct rise in aggressive behavior among students. To address this, the Department of Education is exploring various behavioral intervention strategies, including alternatives to traditional suspension methods. Ottley Herman emphasized the importance of integrating behavioral intervention or anger management courses for suspended students and actively involving parents in these efforts.

Addressing mental health issues in students is a key priority, according to Superintendent Ottley Herman. The recognition that many aggressive behaviors stem from underlying trauma has led to a concerted effort to provide comprehensive behavioral support services, in collaboration with the Department of Health. School principals are also being encouraged to develop effective conflict resolution strategies.

In a direct response to the problem, the Education Department is considering regulating the use of cellphones in schools, which, though initially intended as educational tools, have become instrumental in amplifying conflicts. Wells-Hedrington indicated that this shift in policy is aimed at reducing distractions and hazards associated with cellphone misuse.

Enhancing school safety is another critical area of focus. Initiatives include recruiting additional school monitors, especially at the St. Croix Educational Complex, and equipping them with appropriate safety gear. This move comes in response to increasing physical interventions by monitors during violent incidents.

Sen. Diane Capehart praised the proactive steps taken by the Department of Education, while Sen. Kenneth Gittens urged a broader community and familial approach to curbing school violence. Gittens, drawing on his experience as a former police officer, highlighted the need for parental responsibility and control at home as a fundamental step towards ensuring a safer school environment.

The issue of student safety extends beyond physical altercations. Alina Poyah, a student at John H Woodson Junior High School, raised concerns about a February 2023 incident involving a pellet gun, stressing the need for accountability and heightened security measures to prevent such occurrences.

Overall, the Virgin Islands’ educational authorities are actively seeking multifaceted solutions to combat the worrying trend of school violence, recognizing the need for a holistic approach that includes mental health support, parental involvement, and stricter school policies.

At a recent hearing by the Senate Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure & Planning, the Department of Education’s (D.O.E.) strategy for the timely completion of two major school reconstruction projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands was brought into focus.

The D.O.E. has presented intricate plans for the substantial modernization of two key educational institutions: the Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas and the St. Croix Central High School. Commissioner Dion Wells-Hedrington laid out a clear roadmap for St. Croix Central High’s renovation, detailing the relocation strategy for campus operations to accommodate the construction phase.

Commissioner Wells-Hedrington described the innovative approach for the redesign, stating, “Central High’s design involves an inventive ‘campus flip,’ which strategically positions the new construction where temporary modular facilities currently exist.” She revealed the intention to dismantle the old gymnasium to pave the way for new structures, followed by a phased transition of students to the newly built academic buildings before the demolition of the original structures.

The D.O.E.’s lead architect, Chaneel Callwood-Daniels, outlined the multiphase strategy for Charlotte Amalie High School to the legislative body, noting the employment of separate entities for demolition and construction to ensure efficiency and historical conservation.

Ms. Callwood-Daniels reported to the committee that the hazardous material abatement, including lead and asbestos removal, is nearing completion, marked at 90 percent. She described the initial steps of the renovation process, involving the demolition of three structures to facilitate the construction of new academic facilities. She detailed the subsequent steps wherein students, presently in temporary modular units, will be transitioned into the new structures, allowing construction to proceed on remaining areas.

During the hearing, committee members raised concerns about the impact of construction on the student body. Senator Dwayne DeGraff questioned the potential for noise disruption, to which Ms. Callwood-Daniels highlighted the contractor’s measures to minimize the disturbance, which includes scheduling work during early mornings or evenings. She added that dust mitigation strategies are in place, mentioning plans to dampen debris before demolition activities.

Senator Alma Francis-Heyliger addressed concerns regarding adherence to project timelines, referencing historical delays and incomplete initiatives.

In response, Ms. Callwood-Daniels assured committee members of her commitment to expedient progress, proposing a 10-year completion window for the major education infrastructure projects. Despite Senator Francis-Heyliger’s skepticism about the timeline’s realism, Ms. Callwood-Daniels remained optimistic, projecting significant advancements by 2033.

Highlighting the critical time constraints tied to FEMA’s funding parameters, Ms. Callwood-Daniels underscored the urgency of adhering to schedules, pointing out the financial implications of delays. She concluded by emphasizing the D.O.E.’s initiative to advance multiple projects concurrently, leveraging the limited time to maximize FEMA’s grant benefits for the territory’s educational infrastructure.