June 26, 2002 — The Board of Education condemned the administration's handling of the public school system in a press conference Wednesday morning. Executive Director Evadney Hodge said the board does not want to be "an adversary" of the Education Department but, "getting collaboration and cohesion" between the two entities is "difficult."
The department "is under a governmental structure that is really set up for — I don't want to say failure, but for lack of a better word," Hodge said. Meantime, the board "has responsibilities that overlap or interfere with those of the department," she said. "We end up with mass confusion."
Because the two entities frequently lock horns, she said, the board resolved to meet with the news media to go over its complaints and outline suggestions for improvement in the public school system Each board member addressed a particular issue:
Dr. Jorge "Tito" Galiber, board chair, said the loss of accreditation by the three public high schools that had it was "sadly predictable." He said all four "fundamental problems" cited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools — lack of site-based management, unacceptable absentee rates for both students and teachers, and an inadequate substitute teacher pool — as long standing problems.
"If some of our children are not attending school regularly, learning cannot take place," Galiber said. "If some of our teachers are not attending school regularly, all of our children cannot be taught."
He said the board learned of the loss of accreditation through the media. And when the board met with Gov. Charles W. Turnbull and top Education officials seeking to formulate a memorandum of agreement to address the deficiencies outlined by Middle States, they could not reach consensus.
Galiber said the board intends to be an "integral part" of any plan to regain accreditation. And he said any attempt to seek accreditation from an agency other than Middle States would "give the impression that we are lowering our standards." He said the process of reapplying for accreditation offers a "unique opportunity to holistically address education in the territory."
Changes in graduation requirements
Hodge said changes in the credits required for graduation that the board approved two years ago have yet to be implemented. The addition of one credit in health and and one credit in social studies will take effect for students graduating in 2004, she said.
Board changes to high school graduation requirements dating from 1996 have not been implemented, Ronald Russell said. The board voted to raise the number of credits required for graduation from 21 to the current 24 in 1996, he said, but a waiver was granted last year for the current class of seniors.
Russell said the board is "extremely displeased with the negligence and irresponsibility of the Department of Education" and has called for an implementation plan to ensure that all high school students successfully complete any additional required courses mandated by the board. The department has until July 30 to provide such a plan, he said, or the board will take the matter to court.
Facilities assessment
Malik Sekou presented a plan for assessment of school facilities and summer maintenance and repairs. He said the board has asked the Police Department and Fire Services to inspect all school annually. The Departments of Health, Public Works, Planning and Natural Resources and Labor have been tapped to aid in completing a variety of school environmental and health inspections during the summer months, he said.
Sekou called on the department to provide the board information on general conditions, basic needs and adequacy of space within the schools. The board is scheduled to complete overall assessments by the end of August and to submit its final report by the end of September.
During the summer, the board "will monitor the progress of the summer repairs and maintenance program," Sekou said. He said inspections will be conducted by all of the appropriate regulatory agencies two weeks prior to the start of school to ensure that all deficiencies are addressed. "The board intends to ensure that our children return to environments that are safe, healthy and conducive to optimal learning," he said.
Lack of certification, unspent federal funds
Yvonne Henry said only one-third of the nearly 1,800 teachers and other professional staff in the territory are certified, another third lacks documentation required for certification, and the rest require additional education or specific subject area course work to be eligible for certification. "This situation must be corrected," she said. "All classrooms must have well-qualified and certified teachers by 2005."
She said the board is revising the certification criteria for all professional positions. People holding a bachelor's degree can get a one-year certification that allows them to work while completing the requirements for certification, she noted.
Henry also said the Education Department has failed to spend roughly half of the federal funds appropriated for educational purposes in the territory. She said the entire $31,675,518 appropriation must be spent by the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30. "The board has asked the department to submit an expenditure plan to ensure the timely expenditure of these funds," Henry said. "To date, the plan has not been received."
She said Education officials insist their internal records reflect significant progress in expending federal funds. However, she said, conflicting data lead the board to believe that improvement is necessary. "The public school system cannot afford to lose one penny of these funds," she said.
The board also presented a plan to reach students in grades 10-12 via the Internet. The Virtual School Project is being offered in conjunction with the administration's Office of Technology and currently has nearly 100 high school students enrolled. Two online courses — SAT Preparation and Computer Applications — are offered.
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