USVI Public Schools Resume In-Person Operations on August 9

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Virgin Islands Department of Education officials announced in a series of radio and online interviews July 6-8 that all public schools in the Territory will resume in-person operations for the 2021-2022 school year, beginning August 9. The announcement came following walkthroughs of campuses in the two districts by V.I. Department of Health officials.

“We are prepared and excited to safely bring all of our students back to our campuses on August 9,” Education Commissioner Racquel Berry-Benjamin said. “We continue to work hand-in-hand with Commissioner Encarnacion and the Department of Health on all matters concerning the safe operation of our schools during the pandemic.”

Berry-Benajamin further pointed out that the Department of Education reopened some of its school campuses for in-person instruction at the end of the 2020-21 school year, giving schools the opportunity to hone their operations in anticipation of the return of all students in the new school year.

“We successfully opened some of our school campuses from March to May of the 2020-2021 school year,” she said. “Those two months afforded us the opportunity to test the effectiveness of the safety protocols in place at our campuses, and we have been pleased with the outcomes. We look forward to returning all of our students and staff to safe, in-person school environments.”

RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING

• All USVI public schools will resume in-person operations on August 9, 2021
• Schools and/or classes will revert to virtual or hybrid instruction ONLY if COVID-19 cases are impacting in-person operations
• The Department of Education has equipped its schools with the necessary technology to seamlessly move from in-person operations to virtual/hybrid operations when necessary
• All students needing a laptop computer or MiFi internet device will be issued these items when schools reopen
• Students are required to be dressed in the school’s uniform while on campus

SPECIAL VIRTUAL PILOT PROGRAM

• For the 2021-2022 school year, the Department of Education will pilot a fully virtual program for select students who qualify in each district (this program is not open to all students)
• Eligible students for the virtual program are students in grades 6th-12th who have 1. Demonstrated the ability to work independently online, as evidenced by student grades from the 2020-21 school year, or 2. Students with an illness, confirmed by a note from a licensed health practitioner, that prevents the student from attending classes in person
• The Department of Education will inform families of their eligibility to participate in the virtual pilot program; space is limited
• Instructors for the virtual pilot program will be sourced through an online educational service provider
• The virtual pilot program is intended to explore the Department’s interest in establishing an online public school in the future

Start your day with the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here. And follow Patch USVI on Facebook to get the latest, breaking news.