-Staff Cuts Clobber Kean
By J.B.
Ms.Greenaway pretends to be a prisoner getting out of jail on her last day at Kean after 30 years
The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School has been struck with a 20-person staff member cut, meaning 20 employees are no longer on staff for the 2011- 2012 school year at Ivanna Eudora Kean High.
This cut was implemented throughout the whole territory as part of a cost -cutting plan because of the territory’s budget crisis, and schools won’t rehire anyone unless absolutely necessary. For more information on the budget crisis, click the following link:
Most of Kean’s employees retired because of an early retirement program with a $10,000 bonus, but some left the school for other reasons. The school’s principal, Dr.Sharon McCollum, said, “We are being asked to do more with less.
“There has been no directive to rehire anyone into the schools, and as for IEKHS, all the positions that employees retired from will not be filled. It is hard to find qualified people in the Virgin Islands to occupy these jobs because of the eight percent cut which is another factor to the hiring,” she added. She was referring to the pay cut for all government employees that was also a result of the budget crisis.
Ms.Milliner retired in October 2011 but still teaches as a substitute because of the teacher shortage
Dr. McCollum said this dilemma has led to dramatic changes. Elective classes that were available but are not offered in the 2011-2012 school year (because there are not enough teachers) include African American Literature, Caribbean Literature, Photography, Woodwork, and many others.
This school year the faculty will concentrate on critical required classes; this has dimmed opportunities for student to get classes they want like electives that are fun.
Some new teachers joined the staff including Sgt. Dottin, JROTC; 1st Sgt. Frett , JROTC; Ms. Hancock, Special Ed.; Ms. S. Smith, Senior Counselor; Ms. R. Dalmida, School Nurse; Ms. M. Emeran, French Teacher; Ms. G. Roberts, Special Ed.; and Mr. L. Thomas, Asst. Principal.
Here is a list of the employees who have left or retired from Ivanna Eudora Kean:
Ms. Rogers - Science Teacher
Ms. Young - English Dept.
Ms. Enero - Special Ed.
Ms. Dawson - Paraprofessional
Ms. Greenaway - Literacy Coach
Ms. Blyden - Office Staff
Ms. Turnbull - Office Staff
Ms. Milliner - Foreign Language Dept.
Ms. Fredericks - Sign Language Instructor
Ms. Wilkinson- Dykes - Counselor
Ms. Monrose - Math Teacher
Ms. Industrious - Registrar
Mr. Christopher - Social Studies Teacher
Mr. Lettsome - Carpentry Teacher
Mr. Davis - Assitant Principal
Sgt. Major Cruz - JROTC
Sgt. Mars - JROTC
A prank “Get out of Jail” card worn by Ms.Greenaway on her last day at Kean.