Committee on Education & Workforce Development 
*Wednesday, February 5, 2025 
*9:00 AM 
*Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room, St. Croix USVI 
 
Agenda  
The Committee will receive testimonies on the following: 
 
 
Invited Testifiers: 
 
I. 
Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Commissioner, Virgin Islands Department of 
Education 
• 
Status of Federal Funds (ARPA, Cares Act, Consolidated Grants) and Imprest 
Funds 
• 
Analysis of student test scores for the 2023-2024 academic year  
• 
Strategies used to address learning loss 
• 
Status of entrance and exit exams 
• 
Plans to address the loss of instructional time due to abbreviated school 
schedules caused by severe heat 
• 
Status of afterschool programs and plans for summer programs 
 
II. 
Craig Benjamin, Executive Director, Bureau of School Construction & 
Maintenance 
• 
Update on Arthur A. Richars School Rebuild  
• 
Status of the Claude O. Markoe Gymnasium 
• 
Status and timeline for completion of school kitchen equipment installation in 
the district of St. Croix 
• 
Status of electrical upgrades for territorial schools 
• 
Status of AC unit installations in schools affected by severe heat  
• 
Summer maintenance plan 
• 
Outline of process to report school-based maintenance issues (work order 
requests) 
 
 
We look forward to your attendance and valuable contributions to the hearing 
 
*Please note revisions to the date, time, and venue of the hearing. 
 
#3022 Estate Golden Rock - Christiansted St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 00820 
 Office: (340) 712-2256 | senatorkurtvialet@legvi.org 
Facebook.com/ReadyforVialet | Instagram: @ReadyforVialet 
 
ALWAYS READY TO SERVE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Honorable               
KURT A. VIALET 
Majority Leader 
 
Gloryvee Christian-Krieger 
Chief of Staff 
 
Samanta Prentice  
Legislative Researcher 
 
Janella John 
Communications Manager 
 
 
COMMITTEE CHAIR 
Education and Workforce 
Development 
 
COMMITTEE MEMBER 
Health, Hospitals &  
Human Services  
 
Disaster Recovery, 
Infrastructure & Planning 
 
Housing, Transportation,  
& Telecommunications 
 
Budget, Appropriations and 
Finance 
 
 
 
 
                            36th Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands