Students at Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School got an unexpected day off Monday due to a lack of teachers showing up for work.
“At the start of the school day there were only three teachers who had reported for work,” said Deputy Schools Superintendent Maria Encarnacion. “The absence of teachers was in fact a job action.”
The school has 45 teachers and 15 paraprofessionals at the campus in Estate St. Peters east of Christiansted.
School was dismissed and closed at 9 a. m., and buses and guardians were called in to pick up students.
Tyrone Molyneaux, president of St. Croix local of the American Federation of Teachers, said the action was in response to the fact that teachers have still not yet received the raises negotiated and agreed on in September 2009. The Department of Education promised the teachers the raises would be in paychecks on May 6 and they weren’t.
“The promises have been made, and the dates have come and gone,” Molyneaux said. “The Department of Education said due to cash flow they can’t meet the increase as promised. This is very unprofessional.”
Molyneaux said the union members definitely displayed their dissatisfaction with the Department of Education and the administration. He said he has talked to members of the union, and they are very upset.
“I commend them for taking a stand,” Molyneaux said. “They have been promised over and over, and they are tired of waiting.” He said now the DOE promised to have the increases in the May 20 paychecks. He said once they get the raises it will be retroactive to September 1, 2009.
Encarnacion said students are to report Tuesday for a regular day of classes.
