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March 20, 2007
Acting Education Commissioner directs program manager and coordinators in V.I.D.O.E of the need to wok through the summer months on obligating 2005 federal grant Consistent with the hands-on approach the DeJongh administration has taken to minimize the amount of federal education grants returned to Washington unspent, Department of Education Acting Commissioner Lauren Larsen has directed that program coordinators and managers work during the summer months. The employees will continue to work after the end of the current school year up until Friday, July 27, 2007. Larsen wrote in correspondence to the coordinators and managers that "a recent assessment of the needs of the department associated with executing and completing the critical work of obligating and liquidating the federal funds awarded to the Virgin Islands under the FY 2005 Consolidated Grant Application within the stringent timelines of the U.S. Department of Education has determined that it is imperative that you, as a vital part of the process, remain during the summer to assist with the effort." Larsen further wrote that the department recognizes the importance of summer vacation but "the problems that have plagued the department’s timely expenditure of federal funds must be addressed immediately." Larsen also called for a meeting with the affected union’s representatives to discuss his directive. The letter to the program coordinators was dated March 14th and was in accordance with provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the V.I. Government, Department of Education and the two districts’ Educational Administrators Associations. The request of the Acting Education Commissioner followed two meetings Gov. John deJongh held with the program coordinators and managers last week on St. Croix and St. Thomas. At the meetings, the chief executive entertained candid discussions about the challenges the department has had obligating and spending federal grant money. deJongh used the two meetings to restate his commitment to bringing about systematic changes that will benefit all students in the public education system. He stressed the need for accountability as the government pushes against a crushing deadline for obligating and liquidating grant money which dates back to the 2005 school year. |
