A group of about 50 students from the St. Croix Educational Complex is not taking an incident that occurred with another student involving a fallen ceiling fan lightly. On Friday morning as school went into session the students marched with signs in hand to protest against deplorable conditions at the high school.
Thursday morning a student at SCEC was injured by a ceiling fan that fell during class, adding to growing concerns about the safety and maintenance of public schools in the Virgin Islands.
The student sustained injuries to his left side, received stitches, and is in stable condition, confirmed St. Croix Insular Superintendent Sharlene Belton-Gonzalez on Thursday.
“We need fixes, we need changes. The focus is changing stuff for the better. Changing for us, doing better for us,” said Akayhla Gibbons, who also witnessed the fan falling on her classmate. Some of the conditions the students were protesting against were the safety of the fans, damaged lockers, mold issues and other concerns.
Gibbons said that the teacher and students were shocked when they witnessed the fan falling. She said prior to that, it made a sound. In a video the students shared with the Source, you can see a bloody shirt and a teacher consoling the student. Near the student, there’s a fan on the floor and wires from the ceiling can be seen.
“There’s one class where there is literally duct tape holding the fan up,” Gibbons said.
Another student, Trissharra Knight, said she’s scared to sit in class out of fear of the metal fans that were installed.
Student Anrothia Prospere said, “What if it happened in elementary school? What if it happened with little kids? We would be devastated. We don’t want that. We want to come to school and feel safe and heard. Not shut down and afraid.”
The students said that the turnout was not as strong as they hoped because other students were afraid of the retaliation they would receive after the protest. The students said that because they left the school, they were not allowed to return. Many parents and other volunteers brought water, snacks and food for the young protestors.
Officers from the V.I. Police Department were also present to monitor and ensure the protest was carried out in a peaceful manner.
Parent Marva Heidmann, who participated last year in a student protest over school conditions, came out with the same sign she used then to show support to the students. “I just kept thinking about that child. The injury to that child is trauma,” Heidmann said. Heidmann, who has a grandchild that attends the school, said, “I don’t like the intimidation of denying their rights to protest. They have a First Amendment right to speak.”
Also showing support to the students was the organization People’s Choice Virgin Islands. Member Elizabeth Viera said that while visiting the SCEC for the Democratic primary election she was unhappy with the conditions. “The place was so dingy and deplorable and that made my spirit drop. We want to tell the children to shut up. Don’t do this, don’t do that, but we as adults are not following the rules and laying a proper foundation for them. It is all of us as a community to blame,” she said.
The V.I. Education Department issued a press release Friday afternoon that said, “VIDE acknowledges the efforts of students at the St. Croix Educational Complex for conducting a peaceful protest on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, to express their concerns about school and classroom conditions. The VIDE recognizes the students’ right to voice their frustrations about matters that directly have an impact on their educational environment and well-being.”
The press release went on to say that St. Croix Insular Superintendent Sharlene Belton-Gonzalez engaged directly with the students during the protest and expressed appreciation for their courage.
“The students have taken a bold and courageous step in asking to be heard, and we are here to listen,” she stated.
Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington received a letter from the Parent Teacher Organization requesting a meeting with parents, students and staff. The commissioner said the meeting will be held on Tuesday, due to a previously scheduled Senate hearing on Monday that requires the attendance of all VIDE leadership. The location of the meeting has not been confirmed.
