Dear Source:
Congratulations to the new leadership of the VI Board of Education, Chair Winona Hendricks, Vice Chair Arah Lockhart and Secretary Judy Gomez. I pledge to support the leadership in the best interest of the children of the Virgin Islands territory.
“The public-school children now, are the community leaders of tomorrow.” If the community wants an educated workforce, if the community wants the next generation to be responsible citizens, if the community wants to have an annuity, the community must provide the children with a quality education.
The community must talk about how to adjust the governance of education; we must talk about how to adjust the facilities for education; we must talk about how to adjust the curriculum of education, and we must talk about what support services need to be in place for education. This conversation must happen to adequately prepare our students for development in the Caribbean and globalization.
This in mind, I requested to serve two Standing Committees on the 18th Board, the Policies, Rules and Regulations Committee and the School Plants and Facilities Committee. I requested to Chair the School Plants and Facilities Committee, but the Executive officers of the Board did not grant me the position.
This year, the commemoration of 100 years under American rule is the appropriate backdrop for discussion of government reform. The community should consider comprehensive reform in education, health and public safety. The legislative duties given to the Virgin Islands Board of Education aligns it to lead the discussion on education reform.
In a civic-minded community, the citizens must make their wants known to their representatives. Fax 774-3384, or e-mail board@myviboe.com the members of the VI Board of Education to encourage comprehensive education reform. Thank you.
Mary L. Moorhead, member of VIBE