Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is sponsoring a seminar, "Solar Energy and Recycled Art at Maho Bay."
FRIENDS SPONSOR MORAVIAN HISTORY SEMINAR
Friends of Virgin Islands Natinal Park is sponsoring a seminar, "History of Moravian Churches on St. John."
MARINE LIFE ENTHUSIAST'S TRIP
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is sponsoring a seminar, "Marine Life Enthusiast's Trip."
ART FAIR'S SECOND DAY AT MARKETPLACE
The Art Fair at the Marketplace, sponsored by the Artists' Association of St. John, will feature art exhibits, demonstrations, face painting, parade and other activities for children.
The public is invited and admission is free. Proceeds are to benefit the AASJ Youth Fund.
The public is invited and admission is free. Proceeds are to benefit the AASJ Youth Fund.
ART FAIR TO BE AT THE MARKETPLACE
The Art Fair at the Marketplace, sponsored by the Artists' Association of St. John, will feature art for sale, face painting and other activities for children. The public is invited and admission is free. Proceeds are to benefit the AASJ Youth Fund.
INSPECTOR GENERAL: REDUCED FUNDING 'IMPOSSIBLE'
March 24, 2003 – David Cohen, head of the U.S. Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs, plans to look into funding woes outlined in a letter last week from V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt to the Office of Management and Budget's director, Ira Mills.
The 24th Legislature appropriated $1,095,794 for the Inspector General's Office for Fiscal Year 2003, but OMB now says the allotment must be cut to $986,215, according to van Beverhoudt, and this could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
Van Beverhoudt said in the letter that his agency "cannot absorb reduced funding … without serious consequences to the operations" of the office, including possibly shutting it down by this summer. He said salaries and fringe benefits alone account for $959,087, leaving barely $27,000 for all other operating, supplies and utility expenses — "an impossible task."
An aide to Cohen said the ability of local government agencies to demonstrate that they are accountable for federal funding is imperative. Losing the ability to monitor funding locally is "walking into a minefield," his spokesman, Keith Parsky, said.
Van Beverhoudt said that in earlier discussions, Mills had indicated that he didn't anticipate a problem in funding the full appropriation. However, the inspector general said, Mills' staff members continue to insist that he submit a reduced spending plan for his office — "a plan that I refuse to submit."
He told Mills that, because of funding shortages and no office staff on St. Croix, audits on the island were at a standstill for more than two months until the second-quarter allotment was released. As a result, he said, employees voluntarily used their own money to continue their work, severely compromising the office's independence and operations.
"Please be advised, that if the appropriate level of funding is not received, our funds will be depleted by the summer of 2003 and we will be forced to close the office and cease operations," van Beverhoudt wrote.
On Monday, he said had received no response from OMB to his letter, dated March 17. Mills did not return telephone calls to his office.
In December, Cohen announced that federal funding from Insular Affairs would henceforth depend in part on the "strength and independence" of a territory's public auditor's office. The Source faxed a copy of van Beverhoudt's letter to Cohen's office on Monday. Parsky said Cohen had seen the letter but that it was "premature" to comment. Parsky did say that the agency plans to "see what, if any, action needs to be taken."
Parsky said Insular Affairs has not set any "hard and fast" time frames for the mandate, as each insular area has different auditing capabilities. But, he added: "The message we were trying to give was sincere: They need to be able to have the ability to generate audited financial statements."
Insular Affairs awarded a technical assistance grant to the Virgin Islands to conduct across-the-board government audits for 1999 and 2000. The results of those audits have helped the office to track federal funding to the local government.
Parsky said the territory has made an effort to keep accurate financial statements coming in, "and they have been good, maybe because we helped fund that."
He said these are "steps in the right direction," but "to underfund the local auditor is a serious mistake."
A problem common to auditing agencies in the U.S. islands is a "revolving door" administration, in which there is no institutional knowledge of audit results, and no ongoing "pool of talent to draw from," Parsky said. "What this office is trying to do is pick up the slack for the islands that don't have the funds to get the training" that employees need, he said.
Van Beverhoudt said he has discussed the situation informally with several senators and has gotten indications of support. Sen. Lorraine Berry wrote to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Friday, urging him to direct Mills to release the remaining appropriation.
"This is the one and only government entity upon which we depend to conduct honest, independent audits," Berry wrote, "one that has been scrupulous in ferreting our malfeasance and which is of particular interest to your office in operating an honest government."
Van Beverhoudt said on Monday that he is not asking for anything more than the approved FY 2003 appropriation. "I know the condition of the government," he said. "All we need OMB to do is allot what the Legislature appropriated."
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The 24th Legislature appropriated $1,095,794 for the Inspector General's Office for Fiscal Year 2003, but OMB now says the allotment must be cut to $986,215, according to van Beverhoudt, and this could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
Van Beverhoudt said in the letter that his agency "cannot absorb reduced funding … without serious consequences to the operations" of the office, including possibly shutting it down by this summer. He said salaries and fringe benefits alone account for $959,087, leaving barely $27,000 for all other operating, supplies and utility expenses — "an impossible task."
An aide to Cohen said the ability of local government agencies to demonstrate that they are accountable for federal funding is imperative. Losing the ability to monitor funding locally is "walking into a minefield," his spokesman, Keith Parsky, said.
Van Beverhoudt said that in earlier discussions, Mills had indicated that he didn't anticipate a problem in funding the full appropriation. However, the inspector general said, Mills' staff members continue to insist that he submit a reduced spending plan for his office — "a plan that I refuse to submit."
He told Mills that, because of funding shortages and no office staff on St. Croix, audits on the island were at a standstill for more than two months until the second-quarter allotment was released. As a result, he said, employees voluntarily used their own money to continue their work, severely compromising the office's independence and operations.
"Please be advised, that if the appropriate level of funding is not received, our funds will be depleted by the summer of 2003 and we will be forced to close the office and cease operations," van Beverhoudt wrote.
On Monday, he said had received no response from OMB to his letter, dated March 17. Mills did not return telephone calls to his office.
In December, Cohen announced that federal funding from Insular Affairs would henceforth depend in part on the "strength and independence" of a territory's public auditor's office. The Source faxed a copy of van Beverhoudt's letter to Cohen's office on Monday. Parsky said Cohen had seen the letter but that it was "premature" to comment. Parsky did say that the agency plans to "see what, if any, action needs to be taken."
Parsky said Insular Affairs has not set any "hard and fast" time frames for the mandate, as each insular area has different auditing capabilities. But, he added: "The message we were trying to give was sincere: They need to be able to have the ability to generate audited financial statements."
Insular Affairs awarded a technical assistance grant to the Virgin Islands to conduct across-the-board government audits for 1999 and 2000. The results of those audits have helped the office to track federal funding to the local government.
Parsky said the territory has made an effort to keep accurate financial statements coming in, "and they have been good, maybe because we helped fund that."
He said these are "steps in the right direction," but "to underfund the local auditor is a serious mistake."
A problem common to auditing agencies in the U.S. islands is a "revolving door" administration, in which there is no institutional knowledge of audit results, and no ongoing "pool of talent to draw from," Parsky said. "What this office is trying to do is pick up the slack for the islands that don't have the funds to get the training" that employees need, he said.
Van Beverhoudt said he has discussed the situation informally with several senators and has gotten indications of support. Sen. Lorraine Berry wrote to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Friday, urging him to direct Mills to release the remaining appropriation.
"This is the one and only government entity upon which we depend to conduct honest, independent audits," Berry wrote, "one that has been scrupulous in ferreting our malfeasance and which is of particular interest to your office in operating an honest government."
Van Beverhoudt said on Monday that he is not asking for anything more than the approved FY 2003 appropriation. "I know the condition of the government," he said. "All we need OMB to do is allot what the Legislature appropriated."
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
INSPECTOR GENERAL: REDUCED FUNDING 'IMPOSSIBLE'
March 24, 2003 – David Cohen, head of the U.S. Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs, plans to look into funding woes outlined in a letter last week from V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt to the Office of Management and Budget's director, Ira Mills.
The 24th Legislature appropriated $1,095,794 for the Inspector General's Office for Fiscal Year 2003, but OMB now says the allotment must be cut to $986,215, according to van Beverhoudt, and this could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
Van Beverhoudt said in the letter that his agency "cannot absorb reduced funding … without serious consequences to the operations" of the office, including possibly shutting it down by this summer. He said salaries and fringe benefits alone account for $959,087, leaving barely $27,000 for all other operating, supplies and utility expenses — "an impossible task."
An aide to Cohen said the ability of local government agencies to demonstrate that they are accountable for federal funding is imperative. Losing the ability to monitor funding locally is "walking into a minefield," his spokesman, Keith Parsky, said.
Van Beverhoudt said that in earlier discussions, Mills had indicated that he didn't anticipate a problem in funding the full appropriation. However, the inspector general said, Mills' staff members continue to insist that he submit a reduced spending plan for his office — "a plan that I refuse to submit."
He told Mills that, because of funding shortages and no office staff on St. Croix, audits on the island were at a standstill for more than two months until the second-quarter allotment was released. As a result, he said, employees voluntarily used their own money to continue their work, severely compromising the office's independence and operations.
"Please be advised, that if the appropriate level of funding is not received, our funds will be depleted by the summer of 2003 and we will be forced to close the office and cease operations," van Beverhoudt wrote.
On Monday, he said had received no response from OMB to his letter, dated March 17. Mills did not return telephone calls to his office.
In December, Cohen announced that federal funding from Insular Affairs would henceforth depend in part on the "strength and independence" of a territory's public auditor's office. The Source faxed a copy of van Beverhoudt's letter to Cohen's office on Monday. Parsky said Cohen had seen the letter but that it was "premature" to comment. Parsky did say that the agency plans to "see what, if any, action needs to be taken."
Parsky said Insular Affairs has not set any "hard and fast" time frames for the mandate, as each insular area has different auditing capabilities. But, he added: "The message we were trying to give was sincere: They need to be able to have the ability to generate audited financial statements."
Insular Affairs awarded a technical assistance grant to the Virgin Islands to conduct across-the-board government audits for 1999 and 2000. The results of those audits have helped the office to track federal funding to the local government.
Parsky said the territory has made an effort to keep accurate financial statements coming in, "and they have been good, maybe because we helped fund that."
He said these are "steps in the right direction," but "to underfund the local auditor is a serious mistake."
A problem common to auditing agencies in the U.S. islands is a "revolving door" administration, in which there is no institutional knowledge of audit results, and no ongoing "pool of talent to draw from," Parsky said. "What this office is trying to do is pick up the slack for the islands that don't have the funds to get the training" that employees need, he said.
Van Beverhoudt said he has discussed the situation informally with several senators and has gotten indications of support. Sen. Lorraine Berry wrote to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Friday, urging him to direct Mills to release the remaining appropriation.
"This is the one and only government entity upon which we depend to conduct honest, independent audits," Berry wrote, "one that has been scrupulous in ferreting our malfeasance and which is of particular interest to your office in operating an honest government."
Van Beverhoudt said on Monday that he is not asking for anything more than the approved FY 2003 appropriation. "I know the condition of the government," he said. "All we need OMB to do is allot what the Legislature appropriated."
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The 24th Legislature appropriated $1,095,794 for the Inspector General's Office for Fiscal Year 2003, but OMB now says the allotment must be cut to $986,215, according to van Beverhoudt, and this could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
Van Beverhoudt said in the letter that his agency "cannot absorb reduced funding … without serious consequences to the operations" of the office, including possibly shutting it down by this summer. He said salaries and fringe benefits alone account for $959,087, leaving barely $27,000 for all other operating, supplies and utility expenses — "an impossible task."
An aide to Cohen said the ability of local government agencies to demonstrate that they are accountable for federal funding is imperative. Losing the ability to monitor funding locally is "walking into a minefield," his spokesman, Keith Parsky, said.
Van Beverhoudt said that in earlier discussions, Mills had indicated that he didn't anticipate a problem in funding the full appropriation. However, the inspector general said, Mills' staff members continue to insist that he submit a reduced spending plan for his office — "a plan that I refuse to submit."
He told Mills that, because of funding shortages and no office staff on St. Croix, audits on the island were at a standstill for more than two months until the second-quarter allotment was released. As a result, he said, employees voluntarily used their own money to continue their work, severely compromising the office's independence and operations.
"Please be advised, that if the appropriate level of funding is not received, our funds will be depleted by the summer of 2003 and we will be forced to close the office and cease operations," van Beverhoudt wrote.
On Monday, he said had received no response from OMB to his letter, dated March 17. Mills did not return telephone calls to his office.
In December, Cohen announced that federal funding from Insular Affairs would henceforth depend in part on the "strength and independence" of a territory's public auditor's office. The Source faxed a copy of van Beverhoudt's letter to Cohen's office on Monday. Parsky said Cohen had seen the letter but that it was "premature" to comment. Parsky did say that the agency plans to "see what, if any, action needs to be taken."
Parsky said Insular Affairs has not set any "hard and fast" time frames for the mandate, as each insular area has different auditing capabilities. But, he added: "The message we were trying to give was sincere: They need to be able to have the ability to generate audited financial statements."
Insular Affairs awarded a technical assistance grant to the Virgin Islands to conduct across-the-board government audits for 1999 and 2000. The results of those audits have helped the office to track federal funding to the local government.
Parsky said the territory has made an effort to keep accurate financial statements coming in, "and they have been good, maybe because we helped fund that."
He said these are "steps in the right direction," but "to underfund the local auditor is a serious mistake."
A problem common to auditing agencies in the U.S. islands is a "revolving door" administration, in which there is no institutional knowledge of audit results, and no ongoing "pool of talent to draw from," Parsky said. "What this office is trying to do is pick up the slack for the islands that don't have the funds to get the training" that employees need, he said.
Van Beverhoudt said he has discussed the situation informally with several senators and has gotten indications of support. Sen. Lorraine Berry wrote to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Friday, urging him to direct Mills to release the remaining appropriation.
"This is the one and only government entity upon which we depend to conduct honest, independent audits," Berry wrote, "one that has been scrupulous in ferreting our malfeasance and which is of particular interest to your office in operating an honest government."
Van Beverhoudt said on Monday that he is not asking for anything more than the approved FY 2003 appropriation. "I know the condition of the government," he said. "All we need OMB to do is allot what the Legislature appropriated."
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
INSPECTOR GENERAL: REDUCED FUNDING 'IMPOSSIBLE'
March 24, 2003 – David Cohen, head of the U.S. Interior Department's Office of Insular Affairs, plans to look into funding woes outlined in a letter last week from V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt to the Office of Management and Budget's director, Ira Mills.
The 24th Legislature appropriated $1,095,794 for the Inspector General's Office for Fiscal Year 2003, but OMB now says the allotment must be cut to $986,215, according to van Beverhoudt, and this could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
Van Beverhoudt said in the letter that his agency "cannot absorb reduced funding … without serious consequences to the operations" of the office, including possibly shutting it down by this summer. He said salaries and fringe benefits alone account for $959,087, leaving barely $27,000 for all other operating, supplies and utility expenses — "an impossible task."
An aide to Cohen said the ability of local government agencies to demonstrate that they are accountable for federal funding is imperative. Losing the ability to monitor funding locally is "walking into a minefield," his spokesman, Keith Parsky, said.
Van Beverhoudt said that in earlier discussions, Mills had indicated that he didn't anticipate a problem in funding the full appropriation. However, the inspector general said, Mills' staff members continue to insist that he submit a reduced spending plan for his office — "a plan that I refuse to submit."
He told Mills that, because of funding shortages and no office staff on St. Croix, audits on the island were at a standstill for more than two months until the second-quarter allotment was released. As a result, he said, employees voluntarily used their own money to continue their work, severely compromising the office's independence and operations.
"Please be advised, that if the appropriate level of funding is not received, our funds will be depleted by the summer of 2003 and we will be forced to close the office and cease operations," van Beverhoudt wrote.
On Monday, he said had received no response from OMB to his letter, dated March 17. Mills did not return telephone calls to his office.
In December, Cohen announced that federal funding from Insular Affairs would henceforth depend in part on the "strength and independence" of a territory's public auditor's office. The Source faxed a copy of van Beverhoudt's letter to Cohen's office on Monday. Parsky said Cohen had seen the letter but that it was "premature" to comment. Parsky did say that the agency plans to "see what, if any, action needs to be taken."
Parsky said Insular Affairs has not set any "hard and fast" time frames for the mandate, as each insular area has different auditing capabilities. But, he added: "The message we were trying to give was sincere: They need to be able to have the ability to generate audited financial statements."
Insular Affairs awarded a technical assistance grant to the Virgin Islands to conduct across-the-board government audits for 1999 and 2000. The results of those audits have helped the office to track federal funding to the local government.
Parsky said the territory has made an effort to keep accurate financial statements coming in, "and they have been good, maybe because we helped fund that."
He said these are "steps in the right direction," but "to underfund the local auditor is a serious mistake."
A problem common to auditing agencies in the U.S. islands is a "revolving door" administration, in which there is no institutional knowledge of audit results, and no ongoing "pool of talent to draw from," Parsky said. "What this office is trying to do is pick up the slack for the islands that don't have the funds to get the training" that employees need, he said.
Van Beverhoudt said he has discussed the situation informally with several senators and has gotten indications of support. Sen. Lorraine Berry wrote to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Friday, urging him to direct Mills to release the remaining appropriation.
"This is the one and only government entity upon which we depend to conduct honest, independent audits," Berry wrote, "one that has been scrupulous in ferreting our malfeasance and which is of particular interest to your office in operating an honest government."
Van Beverhoudt said on Monday that he is not asking for anything more than the approved FY 2003 appropriation. "I know the condition of the government," he said. "All we need OMB to do is allot what the Legislature appropriated."
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
The 24th Legislature appropriated $1,095,794 for the Inspector General's Office for Fiscal Year 2003, but OMB now says the allotment must be cut to $986,215, according to van Beverhoudt, and this could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding.
Van Beverhoudt said in the letter that his agency "cannot absorb reduced funding … without serious consequences to the operations" of the office, including possibly shutting it down by this summer. He said salaries and fringe benefits alone account for $959,087, leaving barely $27,000 for all other operating, supplies and utility expenses — "an impossible task."
An aide to Cohen said the ability of local government agencies to demonstrate that they are accountable for federal funding is imperative. Losing the ability to monitor funding locally is "walking into a minefield," his spokesman, Keith Parsky, said.
Van Beverhoudt said that in earlier discussions, Mills had indicated that he didn't anticipate a problem in funding the full appropriation. However, the inspector general said, Mills' staff members continue to insist that he submit a reduced spending plan for his office — "a plan that I refuse to submit."
He told Mills that, because of funding shortages and no office staff on St. Croix, audits on the island were at a standstill for more than two months until the second-quarter allotment was released. As a result, he said, employees voluntarily used their own money to continue their work, severely compromising the office's independence and operations.
"Please be advised, that if the appropriate level of funding is not received, our funds will be depleted by the summer of 2003 and we will be forced to close the office and cease operations," van Beverhoudt wrote.
On Monday, he said had received no response from OMB to his letter, dated March 17. Mills did not return telephone calls to his office.
In December, Cohen announced that federal funding from Insular Affairs would henceforth depend in part on the "strength and independence" of a territory's public auditor's office. The Source faxed a copy of van Beverhoudt's letter to Cohen's office on Monday. Parsky said Cohen had seen the letter but that it was "premature" to comment. Parsky did say that the agency plans to "see what, if any, action needs to be taken."
Parsky said Insular Affairs has not set any "hard and fast" time frames for the mandate, as each insular area has different auditing capabilities. But, he added: "The message we were trying to give was sincere: They need to be able to have the ability to generate audited financial statements."
Insular Affairs awarded a technical assistance grant to the Virgin Islands to conduct across-the-board government audits for 1999 and 2000. The results of those audits have helped the office to track federal funding to the local government.
Parsky said the territory has made an effort to keep accurate financial statements coming in, "and they have been good, maybe because we helped fund that."
He said these are "steps in the right direction," but "to underfund the local auditor is a serious mistake."
A problem common to auditing agencies in the U.S. islands is a "revolving door" administration, in which there is no institutional knowledge of audit results, and no ongoing "pool of talent to draw from," Parsky said. "What this office is trying to do is pick up the slack for the islands that don't have the funds to get the training" that employees need, he said.
Van Beverhoudt said he has discussed the situation informally with several senators and has gotten indications of support. Sen. Lorraine Berry wrote to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on Friday, urging him to direct Mills to release the remaining appropriation.
"This is the one and only government entity upon which we depend to conduct honest, independent audits," Berry wrote, "one that has been scrupulous in ferreting our malfeasance and which is of particular interest to your office in operating an honest government."
Van Beverhoudt said on Monday that he is not asking for anything more than the approved FY 2003 appropriation. "I know the condition of the government," he said. "All we need OMB to do is allot what the Legislature appropriated."
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
SCHOOL BOARD EYES CERTIFICATION, UNPAID LOANS
March 24, 2003 – Federal teacher certification mandates involving nearly 2,000 persons, delinquent student loans involving prominent public officials and personnel matters of a confidential nature dominated the agenda of Monday's Board of Education special session.
Despite an unsettled atmosphere from the March 13 unseating of Dr. Jorge Galiber as chair, board members found themselves faced Monday with issues requiring their attention, including personnel matters discussed but reportedly unresolved in a lengthy executive session.
"After taking testimony, we couldn't come to a resolution and people had to go home," the acting board chair, Harry Daniel, said later. He declined to describe the nature of the discussion, citing confidentiality. Another meeting will have to be called for the executive session to continue, he said, at a date to be decided.
Although the executive session took twice as long as the rest of the meeting, Daniel said the items discussed in public, including teacher certification, were the primary reasons board members agreed to hold the special meeting.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act calls for 20 percent of V.I. teaching professionals to meet a set of certification requirements by the end of this year. At the Monday meeting, two members of the board's Professional Staff Certification Committee explained the steps they had taken in preparation for certifying nearly 2,000 teaching professionals and paraprofessionals.
Public hearings are to be held May 6 on St. Croix, May 8 on St. Thomas and May 9 on St. John to get feedback from teachers, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations and other stakeholders on the regulations developed by the committee. Daniel said he hopes the certification process can be approved by the time of the board's next regular meeting, tentatively mid-May.
Draft copies of the Staff Certification Regulation have been distributed to schools, according to a report submitted by the two committee members. Board member Malik Sekou expressed concern that the requirements for certification still are not common knowledge among the teachers and paraprofessionals who will have to meet the standards someday soon.
The board also reviewed a number of written requests. They approved one from Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone inviting the board to attend a meeting of the Senate Youth Committee and another from Sen. Ronald Russell seeking the delinquency list of V.I. student loan holders.
However, Daniel told the Source Tuesday the list will be cleaned up and turned over to Russell "no later than April 21." He said the board wanted to be sure there were no mistakes on the list and that payments that had been made were accounted for.
Daniel said that the last time the names of delinquents was published the board got a lot of calls about mistakes, but he also said it spurred people to start paying on their loans.
Some board members expressed concern that disclosing the student loan delinquency list might embarrass public figures whose names appear on it. Sekou said "the most humane and dignified way to handle this is to have the professionals in this office contact them." Daniel was agreeable only for people — notable or not — who have been making good-faith efforts to repay their loans.
"It's not that we don't want to give him the list," Daniel said of Russell. "We don't want to give him a list with names on it of people who have been paying."
Until November, Russell was the legal counsel for the Board of Education.
Daniel said he does not see the request for the delinquent loan list as an attempt to take advantage of privileged information. In fact, he said, a successful collection effort on the "thousands of names" appearing on the list could return up to $2 million to the resources used to fund the student loans of today.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Despite an unsettled atmosphere from the March 13 unseating of Dr. Jorge Galiber as chair, board members found themselves faced Monday with issues requiring their attention, including personnel matters discussed but reportedly unresolved in a lengthy executive session.
"After taking testimony, we couldn't come to a resolution and people had to go home," the acting board chair, Harry Daniel, said later. He declined to describe the nature of the discussion, citing confidentiality. Another meeting will have to be called for the executive session to continue, he said, at a date to be decided.
Although the executive session took twice as long as the rest of the meeting, Daniel said the items discussed in public, including teacher certification, were the primary reasons board members agreed to hold the special meeting.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act calls for 20 percent of V.I. teaching professionals to meet a set of certification requirements by the end of this year. At the Monday meeting, two members of the board's Professional Staff Certification Committee explained the steps they had taken in preparation for certifying nearly 2,000 teaching professionals and paraprofessionals.
Public hearings are to be held May 6 on St. Croix, May 8 on St. Thomas and May 9 on St. John to get feedback from teachers, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations and other stakeholders on the regulations developed by the committee. Daniel said he hopes the certification process can be approved by the time of the board's next regular meeting, tentatively mid-May.
Draft copies of the Staff Certification Regulation have been distributed to schools, according to a report submitted by the two committee members. Board member Malik Sekou expressed concern that the requirements for certification still are not common knowledge among the teachers and paraprofessionals who will have to meet the standards someday soon.
The board also reviewed a number of written requests. They approved one from Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone inviting the board to attend a meeting of the Senate Youth Committee and another from Sen. Ronald Russell seeking the delinquency list of V.I. student loan holders.
However, Daniel told the Source Tuesday the list will be cleaned up and turned over to Russell "no later than April 21." He said the board wanted to be sure there were no mistakes on the list and that payments that had been made were accounted for.
Daniel said that the last time the names of delinquents was published the board got a lot of calls about mistakes, but he also said it spurred people to start paying on their loans.
Some board members expressed concern that disclosing the student loan delinquency list might embarrass public figures whose names appear on it. Sekou said "the most humane and dignified way to handle this is to have the professionals in this office contact them." Daniel was agreeable only for people — notable or not — who have been making good-faith efforts to repay their loans.
"It's not that we don't want to give him the list," Daniel said of Russell. "We don't want to give him a list with names on it of people who have been paying."
Until November, Russell was the legal counsel for the Board of Education.
Daniel said he does not see the request for the delinquent loan list as an attempt to take advantage of privileged information. In fact, he said, a successful collection effort on the "thousands of names" appearing on the list could return up to $2 million to the resources used to fund the student loans of today.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
SCHOOL BOARD EYES CERTIFICATION, UNPAID LOANS
March 24, 2003 – Federal teacher certification mandates involving nearly 2,000 persons, delinquent student loans involving prominent public officials and personnel matters of a confidential nature dominated the agenda of Monday's Board of Education special session.
Despite an unsettled atmosphere from the March 13 unseating of Dr. Jorge Galiber as chair, board members found themselves faced Monday with issues requiring their attention, including personnel matters discussed but reportedly unresolved in a lengthy executive session.
"After taking testimony, we couldn't come to a resolution and people had to go home," the acting board chair, Harry Daniel, said later. He declined to describe the nature of the discussion, citing confidentiality. Another meeting will have to be called for the executive session to continue, he said, at a date to be decided.
Although the executive session took twice as long as the rest of the meeting, Daniel said the items discussed in public, including teacher certification, were the primary reasons board members agreed to hold the special meeting.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act calls for 20 percent of V.I. teaching professionals to meet a set of certification requirements by the end of this year. At the Monday meeting, two members of the board's Professional Staff Certification Committee explained the steps they had taken in preparation for certifying nearly 2,000 teaching professionals and paraprofessionals.
Public hearings are to be held May 6 on St. Croix, May 8 on St. Thomas and May 9 on St. John to get feedback from teachers, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations and other stakeholders on the regulations developed by the committee. Daniel said he hopes the certification process can be approved by the time of the board's next regular meeting, tentatively mid-May.
Draft copies of the Staff Certification Regulation have been distributed to schools, according to a report submitted by the two committee members. Board member Malik Sekou expressed concern that the requirements for certification still are not common knowledge among the teachers and paraprofessionals who will have to meet the standards someday soon.
The board also reviewed a number of written requests. They approved one from Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone inviting the board to attend a meeting of the Senate Youth Committee and another from Sen. Ronald Russell seeking the delinquency list of V.I. student loan holders.
However, Daniel told the Source Tuesday the list will be cleaned up and turned over to Russell "no later than April 21." He said the board wanted to be sure there were no mistakes on the list and that payments that had been made were accounted for.
Daniel said that the last time the names of delinquents was published the board got a lot of calls about mistakes, but he also said it spurred people to start paying on their loans.
Some board members expressed concern that disclosing the student loan delinquency list might embarrass public figures whose names appear on it. Sekou said "the most humane and dignified way to handle this is to have the professionals in this office contact them." Daniel was agreeable only for people — notable or not — who have been making good-faith efforts to repay their loans.
"It's not that we don't want to give him the list," Daniel said of Russell. "We don't want to give him a list with names on it of people who have been paying."
Until November, Russell was the legal counsel for the Board of Education.
Daniel said he does not see the request for the delinquent loan list as an attempt to take advantage of privileged information. In fact, he said, a successful collection effort on the "thousands of names" appearing on the list could return up to $2 million to the resources used to fund the student loans of today.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
Despite an unsettled atmosphere from the March 13 unseating of Dr. Jorge Galiber as chair, board members found themselves faced Monday with issues requiring their attention, including personnel matters discussed but reportedly unresolved in a lengthy executive session.
"After taking testimony, we couldn't come to a resolution and people had to go home," the acting board chair, Harry Daniel, said later. He declined to describe the nature of the discussion, citing confidentiality. Another meeting will have to be called for the executive session to continue, he said, at a date to be decided.
Although the executive session took twice as long as the rest of the meeting, Daniel said the items discussed in public, including teacher certification, were the primary reasons board members agreed to hold the special meeting.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act calls for 20 percent of V.I. teaching professionals to meet a set of certification requirements by the end of this year. At the Monday meeting, two members of the board's Professional Staff Certification Committee explained the steps they had taken in preparation for certifying nearly 2,000 teaching professionals and paraprofessionals.
Public hearings are to be held May 6 on St. Croix, May 8 on St. Thomas and May 9 on St. John to get feedback from teachers, administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations and other stakeholders on the regulations developed by the committee. Daniel said he hopes the certification process can be approved by the time of the board's next regular meeting, tentatively mid-May.
Draft copies of the Staff Certification Regulation have been distributed to schools, according to a report submitted by the two committee members. Board member Malik Sekou expressed concern that the requirements for certification still are not common knowledge among the teachers and paraprofessionals who will have to meet the standards someday soon.
The board also reviewed a number of written requests. They approved one from Sen. Shawn-Michael Malone inviting the board to attend a meeting of the Senate Youth Committee and another from Sen. Ronald Russell seeking the delinquency list of V.I. student loan holders.
However, Daniel told the Source Tuesday the list will be cleaned up and turned over to Russell "no later than April 21." He said the board wanted to be sure there were no mistakes on the list and that payments that had been made were accounted for.
Daniel said that the last time the names of delinquents was published the board got a lot of calls about mistakes, but he also said it spurred people to start paying on their loans.
Some board members expressed concern that disclosing the student loan delinquency list might embarrass public figures whose names appear on it. Sekou said "the most humane and dignified way to handle this is to have the professionals in this office contact them." Daniel was agreeable only for people — notable or not — who have been making good-faith efforts to repay their loans.
"It's not that we don't want to give him the list," Daniel said of Russell. "We don't want to give him a list with names on it of people who have been paying."
Until November, Russell was the legal counsel for the Board of Education.
Daniel said he does not see the request for the delinquent loan list as an attempt to take advantage of privileged information. In fact, he said, a successful collection effort on the "thousands of names" appearing on the list could return up to $2 million to the resources used to fund the student loans of today.
Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
