Boschulte Middle School to Continue Abbreviated Schedule Beginning Jan. 8

Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School will continue operating on an abbreviated daily schedule beginning Thursday, January 8, as the V.I. Department of Education and the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance proceed with ongoing campus maintenance and repair work.

In an update issued Tuesday, the Department of Education said the modified schedule will remain in place until further notice. The change follows remediation efforts and additional roofing modifications completed during the recent holiday break. Education officials said the abbreviated day is intended to maintain continuity of instruction while allowing time for critical work to continue on campus, and that the decision was made with the health, safety, and continued learning of students, faculty, and staff in mind.

Under the modified schedule, the school day will still begin at the regular time of 7:20 a.m., but students will be dismissed daily at 12:50 p.m. Teachers will provide independent learning opportunities and homework assignments for students to complete after dismissal. The department also stated that all formative assessments, including tests and quizzes, will be administered in person while students are on campus and will not be sent home.

The Department of Education said the Boschulte administration will post and share the abbreviated schedule directly with students and parents. Parents and guardians were encouraged to closely monitor teacher communication platforms for daily assignments, expectations, and other updates, and the department emphasized that students are responsible for completing all assigned work.

Officials said the decision to continue with an abbreviated schedule followed a review of data indicating that many families are still experiencing challenges with internet connectivity and access to devices. Because of those barriers, the department said moving fully to a virtual schedule was determined to be impractical at this time.

The Department of Education said it remains committed to providing a safe, stable, and supportive learning environment while ensuring academic progress for students.