Ongoing Teacher Job Action on St. Croix Leads to Closure of Claude O. Markoe, Eulalie Rivera

  • Staff Consortium
  • September 21, 2023
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0 Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES

The V.I. Department of Education has declared the closure of the Claude O. Markoe Elementary School and the Eulalie Rivera K-8 School on St. Croix for today. This decision comes in light of the continued job action by the American Federation of Teachers Local (AFT) 1826, resulting in insufficient personnel available for instruction.

Parents are being urged to retrieve their children at the earliest, with bus transportation in place to assist.

However, the John H. Woodson Junior High School will operate but on a shortened schedule, concluding its day at 1:15 pm. As this job action by the AFT continues to unfold, D.O.E. said it is committed to updating the public about further school closures or changes.

Following Wednesday's disruptions due to a teacher job action, the V.I. Department of Education announced plans to conduct school in the St. Croix District today, stating that the decision emerged from proactive engagement with the American Federation of Teachers Local 1826 (AFT) aimed at reducing educational disruptions and enhancing dialogue with the union.

But today's walkout signals continued disagreements as educators continued their job action with the hope of seeing swift corrective measures to allay their concerns.

The job action has caught the attention of senators from the Senate Committee on Rules & Judiciary, who were convened to discuss appropriation bills. Their discussions were overshadowed by the walkout of educators from multiple schools across St. Croix, emphasizing the importance and urgency of the educators' concerns. Among the myriad issues raised are the infrastructural problems in schools, lack of essential teaching tools, and challenges in the teaching environment, all of which have been highlighted by both the teaching community and Senate members in recent meetings and interviews.

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