St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — The Twenty-Second Virgin Islands Board of Education (VIBE) has issued General Order No. 002-2025, directing the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) to provide a comprehensive territory-wide report addressing student safety, discipline, reporting practices, and compliance with Virgin Islands laws related to school discipline and conflict resolution.

The Order follows recent incidents involving firearms, bomb threats, and other high-risk behaviors within the territory’s public-school events that have highlighted gaps in enforcement, communication, preventive measures, and cross-district coordination.

The Board emphasizes that ensuring the safety, well-being, and educational success of all students is a core responsibility of the Department of Education and each school’s administration. While current laws such as 17 V.I.C. § 91, 17 V.I.C. § 21, 17 V.I.C. § 761, and the Virgin Islands Student Discipline Policy (CVIR 17-003-002) provide clear authority and frameworks for student discipline, suspensions, expulsions, and conflict resolution education, recent observations show inconsistent implementation across campuses.

The Virgin Islands Department of Education is ordered to submit all required information on or before Friday, December 19, 2025. The information submitted will guide forthcoming revisions to the territory’s Student Discipline Policy and support the development of integrated safety, reporting, and conflict-resolution programs across all public schools.

“The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that every student in the Virgin Islands learns in a safe, structured, and supportive environment. This Order reinforces the legal and administrative responsibilities of the Department of Education and aligns our schools with best practices in prevention, discipline, and student well-being. Our students deserve nothing less.”