Citing serious health and safety issues, the Department of Education announced Tuesday it has shut down the school kitchen at Alexander Henderson Elementary School on St. Croix until further notice.
Education officials say they have been working with the Department of Health over the last few weeks to resolve "various health and safety issues within the kitchen," according to a statement from Education. But Education Commissioner Donna Frett-Gregory pulled the plug on those efforts Tuesday after receiving news that several matters – from a rodent infestation to nonworking equipment – still need to be addressed.
“I am truly disturbed by the reports I have received about the conditions of this kitchen,” Frett-Gregory said after a morning meeting with State Special Nutrition Programs Director Angela Frett, along with St. Croix District Superintendent Gary Molloy and his staff.
“It is my belief that we now have to address this issue comprehensively – making sure that each and every concern is resolved – before allowing the kitchen to reopen,” Frett-Gregory said. “I want to assure our St. Croix parents that our Special Nutrition Programs officials and I are working to ensure that there will be no disruption in food service for the students and make sure that those charged with the responsibility to protect the health and safety of our students truly understand the severity of this situation," she said.
According to Frett-Gregory, the school kitchen will be shut down until it is equipped to fully serve the students. Arrangements to have the school’s meals prepared at Claude O. Markoe Elementary and transported in bulk to Henderson have been finalized, she said in the departmental statement.