Although significant cleanup and preparation efforts are underway across all school campuses following the impact of Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Virgin Islands Education Department announced that all public schools remain closed on Friday.
At this time, campuses are not yet adequately prepared to welcome back faculty, staff, and students into a safe and conducive learning environment. Cleanup efforts will continue on Friday, with the hope that electrical service will remain uninterrupted, allowing further progress to be made, according to the press release.
Essential school staff, including principals, assistant principals, kitchen managers, custodians, school monitors, maintenance workers, and laborers, must report to their respective school sites on Friday at 8:00 a.m. All district and state-level employees must also report to their work locations on Friday at 8:00 a.m., as government offices are all open, the press release stated.
Essential school staff and workers have been on-site since the storm passed, initiating both exterior and interior maintenance to ensure that our campuses are safe and ready for students’ and faculty’s return, the release stated.
Schools across the territory have faced various exterior challenges, including downed trees, debris, and other hazardous materials scattered across the premises. While much progress has been made, some debris—particularly large-scale trees causing blockages and dangerous conditions—will require outsourcing to secure the appropriate equipment for their safe removal, it said.
Despite school staff and workers’ collective efforts and commitment, cleanup activities have been impeded by electrical outages affecting both districts. The lack of power has significantly hindered the ability to conduct deep cleaning and other essential maintenance tasks inside classrooms and school facilities. Power is critical for ensuring that these tasks are completed effectively and efficiently, the release stated.
Students and faculty are urged to remain at home during this time to avoid interference with ongoing cleanup activities and to ensure everyone’s safety. VIDE’s goal is to have all schools ready for reopening on Monday, Aug. 19, so that instruction can resume without further delay, it said.
For further updates, please stay tuned to official VIDE communications channels.
