The Virgin Islands Department of Education’s hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Budget was scheduled to last four hours, but after eight hours of testimony and questions, senators had run out of time, leaving many of their questions unasked.
Education, the largest government entity in the Virgin Islands, requested a general fund appropriation of slightly more than $197 million. This appropriation request encompasses $121 million for personnel services (including $1.6 million for the substitute teacher pool), $46.7 million for fringe benefits, $4.5 million for material and supplies and $17 million for mandatory costs. Mandatory costs include items such as janitorial services, pupil transportation, security guard services and communication. Also included in the department’s mandatory costs are $450,000 for accreditation and $7.6 million for utilities.
La Verne Terry, commissioner of the Department of Education, told senators they currently owe WAPA approximately $4 million but the department began an energy audit this summer to address escalating utility costs. The energy consumption project, if implemented as planned, will save the department approximately $1 million in the first year. It is projected to save the department a total of $30 million over the next fifteen years. Terry told senators the savings will enable Education to address major safety and maintenance issues, including security systems and capitol projects needs.
The senate’s post-audit report detailed funds the department is scheduled to receive from the miscellaneous section of the executive budget for fiscal year 2010 in the amount of $8.8 million to cover such items as the installation of air-conditioning units at various schools, maintenance projects, scholarships and interscholastic travel. Also included in those funds is a $3 million payment to Alvarez & Marsal, an independent global professional services firm named in 2006 as third party fiduciary for the U.S. Virgin Islands Government as part of a U.S. Department of Education mandate.
The firm was contracted over a 32-month period to provide independent fiduciary oversight and funds management services related to the administration of U.S. Department of Education grants awarded to the Virgin Islands Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services.
Terry told senators the department anticipates receiving approximately $52 million in federal grant funds, including $13.6 million as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds.
Sen. Wayne A.G. James questioned Terry regarding some $70 million in fiscal stabilization funds, a one-time appropriation awarded as part of the ARRA that was not included in the budget. According to Terry, a stabilization plan has been submitted as the first step in the application process and, if granted, the funds will be used to enhance initiatives already in place such as teacher/employee retention, updating procurement space and the department’s co-teaching program.
Senators had many questions regarding maintenance and capitol projects at various schools, the school lunch program, school athletic programs, literacy rates, and dropout prevention.
Randolph Thomas, director of planning, research and evaluation, told senators that the dropout rate increased from 4.47 percent in 2006-2007 to 5.97 percent in 2007-2008, a total of 462 students.
With regard to repairs and capitol projects, senators were given an update by the department’s maintenance division. Specific projects discussed included Addelita Cancryn Junior High, where roof repairs have been completed and the entire school is going to be painted in the next few weeks. A contractor has been selected for the building of a new cafeteria.
Negotiations between the department and deJongh & Associates, the architect chosen to construct plans for the Charlotte Amalie High School library, will begin Aug. 27.
Ulla F. Muller Elementary is undergoing repairs to its cafeteria, but the department does not expect it will be completed in time for the start of the school year. Lunch will be provided to students via satellite service.
The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School will start to see repairs on the gymnasium starting in mid-October, once negotiations with contractors have been finalized.
Sen. Samuel Sanes, when told that contractors are working 16 hours a day, seven days a week to install air-conditioning and repair the auditorium at John H. Woodson Junior High, told department employees, “This was first reported in September 2008. It has been a year now, which shows that we fail to prioritize. We put our children’s education on the back burner.”
At the end of Education’s hearing, Terry asked senators to “please consider providing us with a lump sum budget, allowing us more flexibility and the ability to get things done in a timely manner.”
Present at Wednesday’s hearing were Sens. Craig W. Barshinger, Dowe, Louis P. Hill, James, Shawn-Michael Malone, Terrence “Positive” Nelson, Nereida “Nellie” Rivera-O’Reilley, Patrick Simeon Sprauve and Michael Thurland.
