Nov. 20, 2004 — The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School cleared the final hurdle in the accreditation process as it received a favorable report from a Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accrediting team visiting the school this week.
Education Commissioner Noreen Michael, in a release issued Friday, said the school met all 12 national standards of the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.
The school now waits a review of the report by the Caribbean Advisory Council.
"Just as we were three weeks ago with the Charlotte Amalie High School review, we are very optimistic about the outcome of this week's visit and offer our sincerest congratulations to the school administration, staff, students and the accreditation team for their efforts," Michael said. "I find this a very appropriate end to the celebration of American Education Week."
The team praised the school for its "strong, dedicated, experienced leadership" and for the positive behavior and improved performance of its students.
"This is not the time to alter your aggressive commitment to self-improvement," the team warned in its review.
While the school met the standards, the team is requiring several corrective measures to be taken:
– Making corrective maintenance to all buildings and grounds wherein students, faculty, staff and administrators are assigned to facilitate instruction and recreation;
– Having a designated individual, with appropriate credentials and subject to ongoing training opportunities, whose primary responsibility shall be the oversight, management and tracking accountability for all funds received from the Department of Education and through fund-raising;
– Arranging for a qualified person whose primary assignment is the oversight for all technology equipment and computer labs;
– Training all teachers to effectively use the results of standardized assessments to improve educational achievement and enhance the instructional process;
– Developing a strategic plan for the school.
The team's report was good news for the school that had been striving to regain its accredited status, which Middle States pulled in 2001. St. Croix's Central High School and the St. Croix, Educational Complex are the only two public high schools remaining to clear the final hurdle. Like Kean and CAHS, Central High had its accreditation pulled in 2001. The Educational Complex, a fairly new school, has never been accredited.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.