At Monday’s press briefing, Government House Communications Director Richard Motta Jr. said a recent audit exposed deep vulnerabilities within the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s (VIDE) child abuse reporting system —fears of retaliation, inadequate training and cultural barriers among them—that could be exploited.
“The vulnerabilities are real, and the risks of someone taking advantage of them are very real,” Motta said, adding that both the Department of Human Services (VIDHS) and VIDE are working to address these pressing issues.
While Motta added the audit wasn’t an investigation into any specific incident, the shadow of the high-profile conviction of former Charlotte Amalie High School coach Alfredo Bruce Smith loomed large, as his case was referenced at least twice in the report.
Motta clarified that the audit instead aimed to assess the overall reporting mechanisms within the education system, noting, “This wasn’t tied to any specific incident but was focused on vulnerabilities in the system.” Still, the timing of the report has heightened public concern, especially following Smith’s 2021 conviction for sexually abusing dozens of students over a 15-year period—abuse that went unreported for years.
In recent correspondence with Attorney General Nominee Gordon Rhea and U.S. Attorney Delia Smith, Sen. Marise James brought the issue to the forefront, expressing frustration that no legal action had been taken against school officials who were aware of the abuse but failed to report it.
“Parents, victims, and the public deserve answers and justice,” James wrote, adding that the continued employment of these officials erodes public trust. Rhea responded by acknowledging the gravity of the situation, but he pointed out that federal investigators found insufficient evidence to prosecute school officials under child abuse or neglect laws. Nonetheless, he announced a renewed investigation by the Department of Justice, which will explore potential administrative punishments for those involved in failing to report Smith’s actions.
Motta also reiterated Monday that a follow-up investigation is being conducted but said he wouldn’t “be privy to” the details as it’s ongoing.
Meanwhile, the 20-page audit pulled, detailed the gaps in VIDE’s protocols, as evidenced by the 24 percent of survey respondents feared retaliation if they reported abuse, while 16 percent said their previous reports had gone unanswered. This lack of confidence in the system, combined with inadequate training, created an environment where abuse could easily slip through the cracks, according to the findings, which showed that 38 percent of those surveyed felt adequately trained to identify signs of abuse, and 13 percent believed students had been provided with information on how to report it.
Interestingly, there were 25 participants in the survey, out of a faculty and staff population of more than 800, as noted in the report.
Michael Cull, the audit’s author, acknowledged the low participation rate in an email to the Source. “Although the response rate on the survey was very low, we felt it important to honor their feedback and include it in the report,” he said. The findings were further echoed in focus groups with 65 participants, where educators voiced similar concerns about retaliation and unclear guidelines for reporting abuse.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., in presenting the findings last week, reiterated that the audit was meant to identify systemic issues that had gone unaddressed for far too long. Bryan stressed that the territory’s abuse reporting mechanisms must be strengthened and assured the public that both VIDE and VIDHS have already begun implementing some of the report’s key recommendations, including improved staff training and better communication between agencies.
