Career and Technical Education Board Seeks Nearly $2M Increase for Textbooks, Trade Equipment and Student Competitions

The Virgin Islands Board of Career and Technical Education is asking lawmakers for a major increase to its Fiscal Year 2027 budget, saying its recommended $689,681 allocation falls nearly $2 million short of what is needed to support career and technical education programs across the territory. Appearing before the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance on Tuesday, Executive Director Genevieve Whitaker said the Board’s total programmatic needs amount to $2,654,168. The resulting funding gap, she said, is $1,964,000. Ms. Whitaker said she is hopeful the Legislature will help close that gap. The Board documented program needs through a series of surveys across the territory and attached costs to those needs. The listed items include $300,000 for textbooks, $100,538.97 for Information Technology/Engineering and National Center for Construction Education and Research tool packages, $176,596.36 for building and mechanical trades equipment and supplies, and $250,000 for Virtual ...