On Wednesday morning, while students at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School were preparing for the day — including the senior class gearing up for “Babies vs. Boomers Day” — teachers staged an unannounced “sick-out.”
According to the V.I. Education Department, 35 teachers were reported absent, leaving insufficient staff to sustain normal school operations. Parents were asked to pick up their children, buses were provided for transportation, and the V.I. Police Department was on-site following reports of fights outside the campus.
A statement circulating from some teachers described “extreme heat and poor classroom conditions,” with temperatures inside classrooms reaching above 90 degrees and, in some cases, up to 100 degrees. The statement highlighted that the learning environment had become “hazardous, not only hindering education but also threatening the health and well-being of everyone inside.” Both teachers and students were reportedly sweating profusely and suffering from bad headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Despite these dangerous conditions, the teachers said VIDE “has been alarmingly silent.”
Other concerns raised by teachers included the presence of mold due to inadequate ventilation and cooling. The release stated that “students and teachers had been experiencing worsening fatigue, heat rashes, and breathing difficulties” because of the poor air quality. In addition, teachers described that instead of addressing their concerns, they were threatened with pay deductions for calling out sick.
This action follows growing safety concerns at the school, highlighted by last month’s incident in which a student was injured by a falling ceiling fan, sparking a student protest the following day over poor school conditions. The protest echoed many of the same concerns now voiced by teachers.
Later in the day, St. Croix District Insular Superintendent Sharlene Belton-Gonzalez released a statement announcing an abbreviated schedule until further notice for the St. Croix Educational Complex High School, Career and Technical Center, and St. Croix Central High School. Lunch and bus transportation will continue to be provided for students.
The abbreviated schedule is as follows:
- 1st period: 7:40 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
- 2nd period: 8:50 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
- 3rd period: 10:00 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
- 4th period: 11:10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
- Lunch: 12:20 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.
- Dismissal – 1:05 p.m.
The VIDE acknowledged the teachers’ concerns and said they are actively working to resolve the heat-related challenges. Teachers are expected to resume teaching on Thursday.
