The kitchen staff at Joseph A. Gomez Elementary School staged a demonstration on Wednesday, protesting what they described as intolerable working conditions that have persisted for nearly three months. Early morning photos posted on social media showed workers outside, taking a break from what they describe as the sweltering kitchen environment that has plagued the school due to broken air conditioning units.
Despite the heat, workers structured their demonstrations Wednesday around the students, still serving breakfast and lunch before heading back outside to protest.
The Virgin Islands Education Department and the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance (BSCM) acknowledged the demonstration in a press release Wednesday, attributing the ongoing issues to a malfunctioning air conditioning system crippled by recurring power surges on campus. These surges have rendered the system ineffective, particularly in the kitchen area, where temperatures have become untenable, according to the release.
In response to the immediate crisis, maintenance crews were dispatched Wednesday afternoon to replace parts in the AC unit, install a new thermostat, and swap out plastic screens for mesh wire to improve airflow. Air-moving fans were also promised to enhance circulation. However, VIDE officials admitted that new AC units, currently being procured, would take up to four weeks to install due to manufacturing and protective coating processes required to withstand the island’s high salt content.
The protest at Gomez Elementary is not an isolated incident. Similar conditions have been reported at Lockhart K-8 School, where logistical delays have prevented the installation of a new AC unit. Meanwhile, at Charlotte Amalie High School, students and staff have protested in recent months due to classrooms without functioning air conditioning and mold, adding to the growing frustration with the overall handling of infrastructure issues.
