Aug. 14, 2008 – Because of recent concerns regarding the process by which the St. Croix District conducted its student registration, a new policy has been implemented effective immediately, according to a press release from the V.I. Department of Education.
"Persons wishing to register their children to attend public schools are hereby advised that an appointment must be scheduled in advance of the registration," Acting Superintendent for the St. Croix District Maria Encarnacion said.
"A recent altercation between parents at the Theodora Dunbavin Complex, which houses the Office of Pupil Personnel, gave light to an issue that has long plagued both the department and the persons it serves. The staff and district administration came up with the new plan toward improving communication and interactions within the unit and the public and we are asking all parents who wish to register their child or children to adhere to the new policy and help us to serve them better," she said.
Ferne McAlpin, coordinator of pupil personnel services for the St. Croix District said, "We are currently in the third phase of our registration period prior to an upcoming school year, and we are still receiving students that should have been registered in the first phase, which is dedicated to students who would be entering the kindergarten. Yesterday's altercation, which did not involve any staff of the department as previously indicated, was quelled by the police. It was a situation that should have never happened, and we are making a concerted effort to prevent any such further incidents from occurring.
"I would also like to publicly thank the Virgin Islands Police Department, namely Officers Tehran Parris and Alinthea Carbon, for their prompt response and mediation of the situation on Wednesday. These officers followed up this morning and set the tone for what was to occur by talking to the persons who came to have their children registered and assured us that periodic visits would be made. Kudos to them and their supervisors for the demonstration of inter-agency cooperation and community oriented policing," McAlpin said.
Registration will be conducted by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Office of Pupil Personnel Services located at the Theodora Dunbavin Complex in La Grande Princesse. Parents are advised that if an appointment is missed, it must be re-scheduled.
Parents wishing to register a child are required to provide the following:
1. Original birth certificate
2. V.I. immunization card with attached health clearance form from the Charles Harwood Clinic;
3. Social Security card
4. Proof of physical address – official document showing name and street address (i.e., driver's license, voter's ID, WAPA bill) and an
5. Affidavit of legal guardianship if student does not reside with parent(s).
NOTE: ALL documents must be available at registration time in order to process.
**To enter kindergarten, a child must be five years of age by Dec. 31, 2008.
Parents and guardians are further advised that students will not be registered without the presentation of a V.I. immunization card with the attached (blue) clearance form issued at the immunization clinic at the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital. Immunization clearance forms are a requirement of the registration process and mandatory. No exceptions.
To schedule an appointment, call the Office of Pupil Personnel Services at 718-9671.
