Effective Tuesday, Eulalie R. Rivera K-8 School on St. Croix will operate under a modified scheduled in response to the ongoing heatwave affecting the territory and concerns about extreme classroom temperatures, the V.I. Education Department announced Friday morning.
Because Monday is a federal holiday, the schedule will take effect on Tuesday, and will continue until further notice:
- Homeroom and morning announcements will commence at 7:30 a.m.
- First period will be from 7:35 to 8:20 a.m.;
- Second period from 8:25 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.;
- Third period from 9:15 a.m. to 10 a.m.;
- Primary lunch (fourth period) from 10:05 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.;
- Intermediate lunch (fifth period) from 10:55 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.;
- Sixth period from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Transportation services will continue for those who use the school bus, the department said.
The changes come as concerns about excessive heat, lack of air conditioning and other school maintenance issues have led to teacher sick-outs and staff protests in both districts.
Last month, kitchen workers and other staff at Lockhart Elementary staged brief walkouts that were sparked by malfunctioning or broken AC units in the cafeteria, kitchen, and other key spaces. Those protests came on the heels of a similar demonstration at Joseph Gomez Elementary School just a day prior.
And just one month into the school year, on Sept. 5, a St. Croix Educational Complex student was treated at the hospital after a ceiling fan fell on him in his classroom, causing a deep gash in his side that required 30 stitches, according to reports at the time.
The Education Department said Friday that the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance “is continuing its efforts to address heat-related challenges at school sites and is working diligently to improve conditions for students, faculty, and staff.”
