Public School: The K-8 Julius E. Sprauve School (JESS) is the sole public education site for students on St. John; high-school students must travel to St. Thomas to attend public school, requiring long commute times. A long-discussed idea to rebuild and relocate JESS became a critical need following the recent storm damage. During the storms, JESS served as the community’s shelter and the nearby ballfield was used as a helipad for relief supplies. In addition to JESS serving as a school and shelter, the community would like to see it serve as a central community gathering place. According to the 2014 USVI study, JESS is undersized by more than 50%. The community has expressed interest in locating the school mid-island and including a gymnasium, auditorium, playing fields, basketball courts, art facilities, computer rooms and a school garden. Additionally, the facility could host vocational training programs. This may best be accomplished through a public/private partnership and including nonprofit organizations to provide additional resources.

The St. John community has an opportunity to participate in the design of public facilities by having its ideas brought forth through public involvement early in the design process; such public involvement is critical, but only viable with buy-in from appropriate government agencies. Due to limited land availability, any new facility should be able to accommodate additional public functions with an auditorium, meeting rooms, playfields, and parking areas that can be used by the public at large.

IMPLEMENTATION STEPS: 

1. Determine a process, timeline and support that is needed for continued public input in collaboration with the Department of Education

2. Articulate a method for determining feasibility of proposed design, programming and services.

3. Conduct a population projection to determine future populations as a part of the feasibility analysis

4. Develop a communication strategy to inform the community about how to get involved

Key Player: Dept. of Education; 

Alignment: IS, CPCB, HHS, Econ RSFs Cost: < $100,000 for each facility Timeline: < One Year