REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS + 43

 This estimate is most conservative as it takes into consideration
only normal increase. It does not take into consideration any increase
due to migration nor does it take into account the replacements of
about 28 classrooms in St. Thomas which are substandard.
 In addition to the classrooms, the public school system is behind in
playground and other educational facilities essential to the
educational processes.
 The problem of inadequate school facilities boils down to two
solutions:
 (1) More funds for construction.
 (2) Acquisition of sites for new schools, especially in St. Thomas.
 Estimates of costs to meet current enrollment and replace sub-
standard classrooms and build special educational facilities are in ex-
cess of $4,000,000. Appropriations of $1,434,000 were made for
construction in fiscal year 1963. Something like $2,205,000 is needed
to house adequately the educational program strictly for students who
are currently enrolled. To replace substandard classrooms in St.
Thomas, close to a million dollars will be needed for buildings alone,
exclusive of cost for land and site development. These figures are
1963 estimates and may be too low a few years hence.
 Acquisition of school sites for expansion of schools and for con-
solidation of existing small units is something that is now being
planned. There are several schools in St. Thomas which are poorly
located. Some rural schools are located in areas which are not likely
to grow extensively and on sites that are too small for any expansion
of facilities.
 2. The Teacher: Quantity and Quality.-For many years the is-
lands have had a shortage of qualified teachers. Despite some im-
provement in salaries, teaching requirements, and recruitment
programs, the shortage continues.
 During the school year 1962, approximately 60 percent of the teach-
ing and other professional personnel held a bachelor's degree or a
higher degree. This represented an increase of 10 percent over the
previous year. It is expected that in 1963 the percentage of teachers
with bachelor's degrees or higher will be about 70 percent. Since the
Department is making no effort to employ on a permanent basis new
teachers with less than a 4-year college degree, it is anticipated that
the percentage of nondegreed teachers will not exceed 10 percent
within the next 3 to 5 years. While some of the best teachers in the
system are nondegreed teachers, the times demand that no less than a
college degree will be the minimum requirements for all new teachers.
 The solution to the problem of teacher shortage can be resolved by
providing conditions of employment which will attract qualified
teachers into the system and retain them for a long period of time.