No Conversations Between VINP and V.I. Over Location for New St. John School

CRUZ  BAY — There has been no contact between the Mapp Administration and National Park Service officials from the Virgin Islands National Park towards furthering long-smoldering efforts to find a location for a new St. John public school, NPS officials told a Tuesday, May 26, town meeting called by St. John Administrator Camille Paris.

“I have not had any conversations with the new administration,” VINP Superintendent Brion FitzGerald told the assemblage of more than 40 residents in response to a question from the audience.

When last discussed by the de Jongh Administration, the National Park Service had identified a mid-island property on Route 10 near the intersection with Route 206 at Hammer Farm

V.I. Education officials as land it would consider exchanging with the V.I. government for the V.I. property the NPS was to designate.

VINP Supt. FitzGerald said there was still “potential for exchange.”

“The ball is in the territory’s court,” Supt. FitzGerald said of the exchange procedure. “The territory has not finished that property process,”

“I have not heard from them,” the VINP official added. “That location is still there for consideration,”

Any land exchange would have “to meet… federal requirements,” Supt. FitzGerald reiterated.

Newly-sworn Education Commissioner Dr. Sharon Ann McCollum confirmed the park superintendent’s assessment.

“At this time we are on hold,” McCollum said in response to an inquiry from St. John Tradewinds, reviewing work and plans done by previous administration.