Community Center

Local Leaders Explore Options to Eliminate Bullying and Violence at Schools During Debut Forum

Education and law enforcement officials offered up numerous ideas that they believe will reduce instances of violence and bullying at schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands, during Thursday’s Weed and Seed Program’s first Crime Prevention Forum hosted by the V.I. Police Department. The forum, which focused on the topic "Bullying and the School to Prison Pipeline”, brought together a panel comprising of Karen Chancellor, acting deputy commissioner at the V.I. Department of Education, Ray A. Martinez, commissioner at the VIPD, Judge Jessica Gallivan, Senators Novelle Francis and Franklin Johnson, and former Senator Diane T. Capehart. The group voiced their suggestions to reduce increasing cases of behavioral issues at schools across the territory and fielded questions from members of the public who were in attendance. Implementing anger management training, adopting individualized solutions; installing therapeutic and guidance counselors at schools were among ideas shared. But perhaps on...