The V.I. Dept. of Education has issued an operational update for the public schools in the St. Thomas-St. John District and St. Croix District, detailing current statuses and any changes in operations.
In the St. Thomas-St. John District, there are no changes to the current operational status. All public schools in this district are open and will continue to operate on their regular schedules, maintaining regular operations.
For the St. Croix District, there are additional updates regarding in-person instruction. The following schools in this district have resumed regular operations and are open on their usual schedules:
- PreK-6: Ricardo Richards, Lew Muckle, Claude O. Markoe, and Alfredo Andrews
- PreK-8: Juanita Gardine and Eulalie Rivera
- St. Croix Central High School
- St. Croix Educational Complex High School
- St. Croix Alternative Education
However, John H. Woodson Jr. High School will continue virtual learning on Friday, February 9th, with the school campus set to reopen on Monday, February 12, 2024. Similarly, Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School will also continue virtual learning on Friday, February 9th.
The decision for virtual learning at Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School follows an incident on the evening of Wednesday, February 8. An electrical fire broke out in the administrative office of the school, D.O.E. said. Fortunately, no students, faculty, or staff were present on the campus or in the administrative office at the time of the fire. Firefighters from the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) responded promptly and extinguished the flames.
An investigation by VIFEMS revealed that the fire originated from heavy rainfall causing water leakage near the AC duct. This leakage, combined with intermittent power disruptions throughout the day, led to an electrical shortage of the appliance, resulting in the fire. The incident has been classified as accidental.
Due to the residual odor from the smoke and the need for thorough cleaning of the premises, the Pearl B. Larsen School campus will remain closed on Friday, February 9. During this closure, students will continue their education through virtual learning platforms.
