Date: January 20, 2005
Contact: Sandra Brunet
Phone: 340-774-2991
ACTING GOVERNOR VARGRAVE RICHARDS MEDIATES
ADDELITA CANCRYN JUNIOR HIGH CONFLICT
Acting Governor Vargrave Richards today met with teachers, faculty,
parents and students of the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School to address
concerns raised which resulted in the recent protests by Cancryn teachers
and students.
After listening to a host of concerns raised, Acting Governor Richards
moved to immediately ameliorate the problems on a short term and long
term basis. Using the “Public Exigency” Executive Order
issued by Governor Turnbull shortly after the fire at Cancryn, Acting
Governor Richards directed Education Commissioner Noreen Michael to
deliver to him an immediate plan of corrective action to remediate the
problems reported at the school.
According to Acting Governor Richards, the fence is currently under
repair and Mr. Lewis Hughes, Director of Maintenance for the Department
of Education, will be on site to supervise all repairs discussed today.
Acting Governor Richards states that after today’s meeting he
is: “Assured that all directives will be followed and that short
term improvements to the issues raised will be forthcoming.”
Finally, Acting Governor Richards reports that he signed the “Notice
to Proceed” for the preparation of all required scope of work,
design and construction to facilitate the repairs and reconstruction
of fire damages at the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School. The Master
Agreement was signed by and between the VI Public Finance Authority,
on behalf of the V.I. Department of Education and Professional Consultants,
Inc.
“I am pleased that we were essentially able to find common ground
on moving towards resolving the short term and long term issues. As
stated before, I have issued directives to the Department and Agency
officials to move post haste in resolving the problems identified. I
ask teachers, faculty, students and parents to bear with us as we solve
the problems,” Acting Governor Richards concluded.
