Interior Provides $2.4 Million to help Improve Infrastructure in U.S. Virgin Islands Public Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 3, 2017) – Interior Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula has made $2.4 million available in fiscal year 2017 grants to fund repairs in public schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).  The grants, made available under the Office of Insular Affairs’ (OIA) Capital Improvement Project (CIP) program, will also begin the replacement of aging potable water infrastructure at public schools on St. Croix. 

“We are pleased that Governor Kenneth Mapp has prioritized CIP funding for USVI school maintenance and physical improvements,” said Pula. “We look forward to seeing the fruits of these efforts.”

Insular Assessment of Buildings and Classrooms (ABCs) Initiative (FY 2017) - $1,947,000 will be used to address high-priority health and safety deferred maintenance needs across the territory as identified through the Insular ABCs assessment. The repairs will include the installation or replacement of fire alarm systems, upgrades to fire protection and plumbing infrastructure, upgrades to Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, and priority structural repairs.

The Insular Assessment of Buildings and Classroom (Insular ABCs) is an assessment of the physical condition of public schools from Kindergarten through Grade 12 in American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Following on findings and recommendations from the Insular ABCs assessment, the USVI prioritized implementation of those recommendations in what is called the ABCs initiative.  The goal is to improve the physical condition of public schools and to build local capacity in facilities management in a way that sustains the maintenance program beyond the first five years of the ABCs initiative.

There are an estimated 344 public school buildings across 34 public schools in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The total deferred maintenance needs and issues identified by the ABCs assessment for public schools across the territory have been estimated at approximately $70 million. Governor Mapp and the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) have committed to allocating $7 million over five years from the CIP program to the schools. Over the past year the VIDE has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fulfill all of the local and federal permitting requirements to be in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. To date, the Virgin Islands Government has awarded nearly $2 million in design and construction contracts with another $2 million expected to be awarded in the coming months.

St. Croix Schools’ Potable Water Infrastructure Replacement Project - $500,000 to begin replacement of the aging and collapsing portions of the potable water infrastructure at schools on St. Croix to prevent water loss and ensure a supply of clean and safe water.  The VIDE has estimated the aging potable water infrastructure to be more than 40 years old and intends to begin work at the schools with the worst leakage.  For example, the VIDE has estimated that leaks at the St. Croix Central High School are at the rate of 38,000 gallons of water daily. 

Public Law 104-134, enacted in 1996, provides for the CIP funding which is disbursed among American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Over the years each of the territories has used this mandatory appropriation to fund projects addressing a variety of critical infrastructure needs such as hospitals, schools, wastewater and solid waste systems. 

The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance provided to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association. On behalf of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas executes these responsibilities through the Office of Insular Affairs whose mission is to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.

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