Too many of our students in St. Croix have been forced to learn in buildings that are unsafe, unhealthy, or simply unfit for the future we are preparing them for. The challenges at John H. Woodson Jr. High are not new — families, teachers, and even our children themselves have been raising concerns about mold, leaking roofs, and poor infrastructure for years. What we are seeing today is the result of problems ignored until they became a crisis.
When we say our campaign is about wellness, education, leadership, and listening, this is exactly what we mean. Every child deserves to walk into a classroom where they can breathe clean air, focus on their studies, and feel safe. Every parent deserves the peace of mind that their child’s health and education are not being compromised by inaction. Every teacher deserves a workplace that respects their commitment by providing the basic tools and safe conditions to do their job.
We respect the hard work of the Bureau of School Construction and the Department of Education, and we recognize that progress is being made. But respect also means holding ourselves accountable for results. It should not take a public outcry, teacher protests, or parents begging for answers before action is taken. Our approach must be proactive, not reactive.
The WELL Initiative calls for a comprehensive plan to modernize schools across the Virgin Islands:
• Wellness: Ensure clean, safe environments with proper air quality, water systems, and facilities that protect health.
• Education: Invest in spaces that inspire learning, not just patch repairs after emergencies.
• Leadership: Make decisions guided by foresight, responsibility, and community trust.
• Listening: Actively include parents, teachers, and students in shaping solutions.
Our children only get one chance at an education. We cannot afford delays, half-measures, or excuses. This campaign is about making sure government doesn’t just respond when a crisis explodes, but works steadily and responsibly so that crises are prevented in the first place.
We’re running to serve because St. Croix deserves leadership that doesn’t just talk about fixing problems but actually puts the community first — in every decision, every policy, every investment.
RunWithDMC