The John H. Woodson Junior High School on St. Croix. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
In anticipation of the resumption of in-person classes next week at the John H. Woodson Jr. High School on St. Croix, the V.I. Dept. of Education has announced several changes to the school’s regular schedule.
John H. Woodson’s physical campus has been closed since October 10, 2023, partly because a broken pipe caused a major flood in late September. The facility had many other deficiencies. Since then, D.O.E. said extensive rehabilitation work has been conducted in the school’s B-wing, main office, and other areas. Classrooms have received new a/c units, ceiling fans, ceiling and floor tiles, and baseboards, the department said.
Mold remediation has been performed, and the main office received a new HVAC system. The entire campus has been deep-cleaned and approximately 220 hallway lights have been installed. The hallways have also been pressure washed and the exterior courtyard has been painted, the department made known.
“These efforts have successfully revitalized four classrooms that were previously inoperable,” said Ericilda Herman, St. Croix District Superintendent. “We recognize the age of our buildings, and any issues that arise post-occupancy will be promptly addressed,” she promised.
This week, students and staff will prepare for the resumption of in-person classes with several activities, including a faculty and staff meeting on Monday morning at Central High School. From Tuesday through Friday, students will have virtual classes only up to midday, “allowing teachers to prepare their classrooms for the first day back on campus,” according to the announcement.
On Thursday, February 8 officials will host a “Virtual Family Meeting” on Zoom at 6:00 p.m.
Regular in-person school operations will kick off on Monday February 12, with school buses beginning to run at 6:45 am.
“The reopening represents a significant milestone,” said Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington. “We are excited to witness the positive impact on our students’ educational journey."
