ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Virgin Islands Department of Education requests permission to use FEMA funds to redesign and reconstruct Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) and to renovate and modernize Bertha C. Boschulte School (BCB). The project plans are available for review, and a hearing for public comment will be held on June 22, 2023 at 4:00 pm.

The CAHS project calls for the complete construction of a new school campus, including classrooms, administrative offices, a library, a cafeteria, a kitchen, bathrooms, stairways, balconies, hallways, and all fixtures, equipment, and contents. The project site is located at 8 & 9 Alton Adams Sr. Drive, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

The BCB project scope includes items necessary to transition BCB into a PreK-8th grade campus. These items include the modernization of existing classrooms, new PreK-5th classrooms, administrative offices, library, cafeteria, kitchen, bathrooms, stairways, balconies, theater, hallways, and all fixtures, equipment, and contents. The project site is located at 9-1 and 12A Bovoni Road, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

All persons interested, either in favor of or opposed to the granting of this permit, are invited to be present and be heard at the scheduled Public Hearing on the proposed project, which begins on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. This meeting will be held via the video conferencing platform Zoom.

Properly signed statements concerning the proposed project, addressed to the undersigned, will become part of the hearing record. Written statements must be submitted by June 29, 2023, via email to czm@dpnr.vi.gov. NOTE: A Decision Meeting will be held in about 30 days after the Public Hearing. Please monitor the DPNR Public Notice Webpage for details.

The Project Details are available for public review here:

VI Department of Education – CAHS Reconstruction (CZT-12-22(FC))

• CAHS New Build - FCD LETTER

  

• CAHS CZM-FCD Package - New Build   

  

VI Department of Education – BCB Reconstruction (CZT-01-23(FC)) 

• BCB FCD Transmittal

  

• BCB FCD - Rebuild

The documents for the proposed project are also on file for review by appointment only at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of CZM, 4611 Tutu Park Mall Suite #300, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (340) 774-3320, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except holidays.

The following information should be used to participate in the meeting:
URL: https://zoom.us/join
Meeting ID: 856 6116 2718
Passcode: 702724

ST. THOMAS, USVI – Six students and four teachers were recently awarded iPhones and MiFi devices, in addition to a year of free internet service—a prize package worth $18,000—as part of their winnings in Department of Education Division of Virgin Islands Cultural Education’s V.I. History Month contests, held in partnership with Viya. 

In the Student District Built Heritage Contest, Virgin Islands students were provided coordinates and historic facts about a series of sites within their districts and asked to photograph themselves at the locations. St. Croix students Vivia Lionice Webster, Elicia Watley, and Lynda Gordon participated and won iPhones; and Zoey Richardson, Joshanique Hendrickson, and Alyson Monsanto, winners in the St. Thomas-St. John District, were also awarded iPhones. 

In the Teacher Door/Corridor Challenge, Virgin Islands teachers were challenged to design Emancipation-related décor at their schools and submit photos of the artwork. Submissions were made public on the Department’s Facebook page, where followers judged the original artwork on the merits of creative use of materials, direct correlation to V.I. liberation themes, and organization and content. The submissions in each district that received the most likes emerged as winners and won Mifi devices and one year of free service. In the St. Croix District, Abigail Magaan-Lopez received 271 likes, Lizette Llanos received 147 likes, and Karissa Thurland-Perez received 123 likes; in the St. Thomas-St. John District, SharraMae Estigo received 298 likes. 

“I am pleased to extend congratulations to each of our winners on this well-deserved honor,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington. “I cannot thank Viya enough for its unwavering partnership in activities such as these that allow our students and teachers to connect with Virgin Islands history and culture in unique and tangible ways. I have heard nothing but good things about the many positive experiences that were enjoyed by everyone that participated. We look forward to continuing to partner with Viya in the future.” 

Viya’s Vice President of Public Relations and Governmental Affairs Jennifer Matarangas-King stated, “Viya is committed to keeping our community connected to culture. We were proud to sponsor this educational contest that linked technology with important VI History initiatives for our students and teachers. Congratulations to the talented students and creative teachers, who participated in this year’s contest. Special thanks to the community for engaging with the Department of Education’s Facebook page to judge the competition. We look forward to continuing this tradition with the VI Department of Education’s Division of Cultural Education.”  

The Department’s 2023 V.I. History Month celebration in March placed emphasis on topics surrounding emancipation and post-emancipation with use of the theme, “Emancipation Now: Understanding History, Living the Legacy, and Creating a Just Future for All Ah We.” July 3, 2023 will mark the 175th anniversary of the 1848 Emancipation Revolt in the Virgin Islands. 

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Download press release here:  pdf Students, Teachers Win Viya Electronics In V.I. History Month Contests (1 KB)