Lawmakers spent hours on Nov. 12 hearing testimony for Bill 36‑0188, which would establish a Virgin Islands Technical College (VITC) to unify the territory’s career and technical education programs and expand post‑secondary, credential and associate‑degree pathways.

Sponsor Sen. Avery L. Lewis told the committee the college is intended to expand access to stackable credentials, dual enrollment and apprenticeships and to align training with local workforce demand. “The technical college is more than a building. It’s a promise,” Lewis said.

Supporters included the Virgin Islands Career and Technical Education Board, the University of the Virgin Islands and principals from existing CTE campuses. Joe Murphy, chair of the CT Board, said the proposal can make technical education more affordable and expand Pell and federal grant eligibility. Dr. Laura B. Bailey, provost at UVI, said the university stands ready to coordinate articulation agreements and shared resources.

But the Board of Education warned the bill asks an operationally weak board (CTE Board) to create and run an accredited technical college without clear parameters for alignment with K–12 graduation requirements, dual‑enrollment or accreditation timelines. “Mandating the creation of an accredited technical college at this stage spreads already limited resources too thin,” Board Chair Dr. Kaiser A. Callwood testified.

Union leaders and principals raised questions about whether vocational instructors and principals would be moved out of existing DOE personnel structures, what would happen to collective‑bargaining status, and how existing Perkins and other grant flows would be handled. Department and bill sponsors said a phased approach is intended — focusing initial efforts on post‑secondary credential expansion while aligning secondary CTE through MOUs — and that the bill includes transitional language for governance and funding.

The committee moved to hold the measure in committee “until the call of the chair” to allow further stakeholder work on governance, funding, union protections and articulation agreements; senators asked the sponsor and stakeholders to produce a consolidated transition plan with precise timelines, a budget, and legal language to protect employees and students.

Next steps: Sponsors will convene working sessions with UVI, the CTE board, AFT and school leaders to refine the bill. The committee expects a revised draft addressing funding, accreditation steps, staff protections and an implementation schedule.