On Thursday morning, nearly half of the faculty at Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) on St. Thomas walked out of their classrooms, citing unbearable working conditions that have persisted for years. As the heat soared, teachers, some wearing surgical masks, gathered under trees or in the corners of the campus, handing out worksheets to students while seeking refuge from their sweltering classrooms, where many air conditioning units were not functioning.
Biology teacher Juanita Frett explained that the decision to leave the classrooms was driven by a commitment to not violate their teaching contracts. “If a room is compromised with mold or other irritants, administrators have to find us a better place to teach,” Frett said. Consequently, many teachers moved to the school auditorium, where about eight teachers had already been holding classes since the start of the school year.
Frett, a former CAHS student, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating conditions, noting that this year’s return to school was the worst she had seen. “It’s as if nothing has been done,” she remarked, pointing out that the installation of sprung shelters and modular classrooms on the track and field—a known flood zone, she said—has likely exacerbated the issue.
In a statement issued later in the day, the Education Department acknowledged the disruption in school operations at CAHS, describing it as a teacher job action prompted by concerns about working conditions. The VIDE stated that while this action led to several interruptions in classes, the school remained in session, with students and teachers relocated to alternative spaces to continue instruction. Officials emphasized the importance of collaborative communication between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Union, its members, and the department, particularly in addressing concerns that might lead to actions like Thursday’s.
According to the VIDE, had the union utilized existing communication channels through the school principal, they would have been informed that an air conditioning contractor was already on-site at the time of the action and that a mold remediation team was scheduled to begin work on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Leontyne Jones, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Federation of Teachers clarified in a call with the Source that the teachers were not involved in a formal job action but rather moved to alternative spaces to avoid continuing to violate their contracts. “I can see that it’s not for a lack of trying, but if this was supposed to be happening today, just tell us that,” Jones said. “In the meantime, it is the district’s responsibility to make sure the schools are conducive to learning. Our concern is with the health and safety of the students and the staff. There is only so much you can learn in an environment that is super hot or in classrooms that make you sick.”
Craig Benjamin, head of the newly formed Bureau of Construction and School Maintenance, supported this, noting in a call with the Source the inadequate ventilation beneath the modular units, which has led to moisture buildup and issues with the flooring. He also highlighted that the insulation in many facilities has become saturated, worsening the situation, especially when air conditioning units fail. “A surge in power is enough to knock one of those units out, and by the time maintenance arrives, the buildings are already hot,” Benjamin explained.
Mold was a predominant concern among faculty members, who spoke openly about its pervasive presence on campus. Many reported experiencing physical reactions, such as skin and throat irritation, as a result of prolonged exposure. Meanwhile, students joined their teachers outside, with some marching later in the day with homemade signs to decry the heat and lack of air conditioning.
Benjamin further explained that while the department is currently in the process of fitting the campuses with generators, the long-term plan to maintain the facilities until new schools can be built will require consistent funding and effort. “Mold, for example, comes with the climate, and the only way to keep it under control is to make sure each classroom is equipped with an air conditioning unit, humidifier, and dehumidifier, along with exterior mildew-resistant paint, among other things,” he said.
Benjamin emphasized that tackling these issues will require ongoing efforts and resources. “I’m not going to make promises that will be broken—we have to get the right things in place to get a handle on it,” he stated, adding that he would be testifying before the Legislature on Sept. 9 about his evolving plan to address these concerns.
In response to the ongoing issues, Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory, a former Education commissioner and the primary sponsor of the bill establishing the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance, issued a statement Thursday night calling for immediate repairs at the territory’s public schools.
“The Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance, which I helped create, has been funded to the tune of $12.5 million, which makes the disrepair of our schools unconscionable,” she said. “I am stunned that there was little to no action taken over the summer months to prepare our schools for the return of our students, faculty, and staff.”
Frett-Gregory criticized the delays in school maintenance and emphasized the need for urgent action. “We cannot say that we are serious about education if the conditions at our schools make it unsafe for teachers and staff to work and difficult for our students to learn,” she stated. She called on the territory’s leadership to come together and take immediate steps to repair the schools. “The chief executive of the territory needs to call his team to the table and get them on the same page to immediately fix our public schools.”
Frett-Gregory also highlighted the legislative provisions that allow the bureau to expedite school maintenance projects. “Many of the contracts for repairs needed at our school facilities fall well below the $1 million threshold and therefore can and should be expedited. Teachers and students should not have to take job action and walk out of classrooms because of unsafe and hazardous working conditions that we’ve known about for years,” she concluded.
