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Sept. 22, 2005 – Senator Neville James, chairperson of the Economic Development, Planning and Environmental Protection committee, on Wednesday, submitted an amendment to the School Management Accountability section of the VI Code (Title 17 Chapter 3 Sec 24) to mandate that schools must be deemed ready to accept students by the Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, prior to the opening of classes.
The amendment was prompted by the conditions at the St. Croix John H. Woodson Jr. High school where unsafe levels of mold were found around the campus, Sen. James said.
"Health and learning problems can be triggered when children and staff breathe in mold spores during the school day." Sen. James said. This amendment seeks to avoid the problems we are currently having with John H. Woodson and other schools in the territory."
Sen. James said the amendment would go through the committee process. "I am anticipating 100 percent support from the entire senate body," Sen. James concluded.