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HomeNewsArchivesFYI: Sen. Barshinger Disappointed in Plans for Benjamin School

FYI: Sen. Barshinger Disappointed in Plans for Benjamin School

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Aug. 9, 2006 – Senator Craig Barshinger, on Wednesday, said he was disappointed that the Guy Benjamin School on St. John stands to lose $294,055 in Community Development Block Grants because of a lack of commitment and interest on the part of the Education Department and the Executive Branch.
"I am really frustrated that money that could have been used to benefit our children on St. John may now be redirected to prevent a total loss of funding from the federal government," Barshinger said. "If there is any means of saving this money for our school, it must be done and now."
About $325,000 in grant funds had been awarded to the Department of Education for the construction of a cafetorium for the Guy Benjamin School in 2005. However, most of the money has just been sitting there while the cafetorium remains unbuilt. Barshinger said the needs of the St. John students have been neglected for too long and this must be rectified.
"It's a shame that the Education Department and the Executive Branch could not work together in making sure that the children of St. John received the benefits of these funds," Barshinger said. "I would want to see that money used for the school if at all possible, but I cannot be opposed to a reprogramming if necessary because it would be better to use the funds for the good of the territory than send them back to the federal government."

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