The town hall Friday night at the St. Croix Educational Complex gave the community another opportunity to provide input on the creation of the Virgin Islands Technical College.
This session followed a similar forum held on St. Thomas on Sept. 9 at Charlotte Amalie High School. The audience included students, teachers, government officials, and community leaders. The Virgin Islands Technical College, currently in development through Bill BR25-0642, will offer hands-on skill courses and career pathways for both high school and adult learners.
Sana Joseph-Smith, policy adviser to Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. for education and workforce development; Sen. Avery Lewis; and project director Lavern Richardson sat on the panel to address questions from the public. The Education Department, the University of the Virgin Islands, the Raphael O. Wheatley Skills Center, and the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center are partnering to support the school’s launch.
Joseph-Smith explained that funding will come through a congressional grant and emphasized the importance of positioning the technical college as a first-choice option for students.
“We want the Technical College to be a first-choice pathway, not a fallback. Students should see this as a place where they can launch careers that are in demand and high-paying right here in the Virgin Islands,” she said.
The college will offer courses such as welding, electrical, cosmetology, hospitality, millwright, childcare, business, computer engineering, culinary arts, and phlebotomy. Licensed practical nursing and elementary education programs will award associate degrees rather than certificates. Joseph-Smith noted that scholarships will make the programs free for eligible students.
The pro forma for the legislation establishing the college has been drafted. Once passed, the school will pursue accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Lewis noted that the bill is still being finalized but expects full Senate support. He estimated the process to establish the college would take 10–12 months.
During the town hall, community members asked questions about course offerings, degree programs, funding, and workforce opportunities. One attendee asked about the demand for LPNs versus RNs.
“My question about LPN is this: have we researched to really know what we need? Do we need more LPNs, or do we need RNs? Years ago, there was a push for LPNs, but the demand wasn’t there. Have we confirmed what’s actually needed?” a community member asked.
Joseph-Smith responded, “Phlebotomy is oversaturated right now — the classes are full, there are waiting lists — but providers in doctors’ offices say they don’t need more phlebotomists. That’s why the associate degree is structured so that the LPN program is built into the first two years of the RN pathway. Demand is strong, not just in hospitals, but in medical centers, elderly care, and other facilities. Ultimately, we know we need more RNs, and this pathway ensures students can advance.”
Joseph-Smith added that discussions are also ongoing with the Office of Disaster Recovery to align workforce training with territory needs.
Adrienne Williams-Octalien, director of the Office of Disaster Recovery, who was present at the town hall, stressed the importance of preparing the local workforce.
“Billions of dollars in construction work are coming through disaster recovery, and that means we must be ready. We don’t want to depend only on large contractors from outside the territory — we need our own people prepared to step into these roles,” she said.
“When national contractors talk about providing training, I can now point to our Technical College and say: here is where we can partner, here is where we can build the skills together,” she said.
“The work we’re doing here is just the beginning. The Technical College must be tied directly to the future of our recovery and to the long-term strength of our economy,” said Williams-Octalien.
The evening reflected the broader vision of the Technical College. As Joseph-Smith noted, “We don’t want our graduates to feel like they have to leave the Virgin Islands to succeed. We’re building opportunities right here so they can stay, work, and thrive at home.”
If you would like to seek more information, you can contact Laverne.richardson@vide.vi or sana.smith@go.vi.gov.
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