V.I. officials hear ideas from acclaimed businessman-educator
Published: August 18, 2010
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Bill Strickland displays a photo of a pastry created by a culinary student at one of his schools during a meeting at Governemnt House on Tuesday morning.
ST. THOMAS — Officials in the Virgin Islands want to know whether the businessman who turned a failing vocational and technical training facility in Pittsburgh into a successful program that educates at-risk youths for careers in various industries and dramatically reduced high school dropout rates can do the same thing here.
After his success in Pittsburgh, Bill Strickland, the president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corp., then opened more schools that have flourished in five cities in mainland United States.
On Tuesday, he shared his educational philosophy with Sen. Louis Hill, Gov. John deJongh Jr., and members of the deJongh Cabinet at Government House.
Representatives of HOVENSA, Diageo and Gold Coast Yachts also attended the meeting where Strickland explained how his privately operated schools have helped at-risk students and low income adults get an education — and improve their lives.
Strickland also presented his ideas to the V.I. Senate on Monday night.
Schools operated under the Manchester Bidwell Corp. run two distinct programs: an after-school art program for students in grades eight through 12 and a vocational and technical career training program. The proposal being discussed for the Virgin Islands would encompass both.
“After his presentation, every single senator was in support,” Hill said. “This is the best opportunity I have seen so far to offer after-school, vocational and technical training.”
Strickland’s life story and enterprises have received international attention. His business has been the subject of four studies conducted by the Harvard Business School.
Strickland grew up in the Manchester neighborhood of Pittsburgh, a neighborhood he frequently says had the highest crime area of the city. He was “saved” by a high school art teacher who saw his talent in ceramics and used it to channel his energy into education.
“I was the guy who should not have survived,” Strickland said.
Strickland’s philosophy, he said, is to build beautiful, well-designed learning spaces, in which students can find their own potential. Enrollment is free in his schools, and many students are from low-income neighborhoods and families.
Photos in his Powerpoint presentation showed well-appointed buildings and students in high-quality facilities. About 500 students currently attend the Pittsburgh school.
Hill said that representatives from the private businesses in attendance and others in private industry would help fund the $150,000 feasibility study that will explore the potential for a Manchester Bidwell school in the Virgin Islands.
Hill said the Senate will help make up for any private funding shortfall.
“I am prepared to move a measure in the upcoming budget for some funding for this study,” Hill said. “My hope is that a significant portion of $150,000 will be from the private sector. There is tremendous wealth in the territory. The EDC should become critical players.”
According to Manchester Bidwell, several other countries have shown an interest in building a school modeled under Strickland’s model.
Hill said Manchester Bidwell schools will fill a gap in Virgin Islands education because it is removed from the government.
“I believe that what he is involved in is something that we desperately need. It is an issue that we have struggled with in the territory for years,” Hill said. “Public education in the United States is undergoing a major restructuring and evolution. There is a huge move to toward innovation in education.”
The Manchester Bidwell method, Hill said, “makes a lot of sense and has a proven rate of success.”
Also attending on Tuesday were Albert Bryan, commissioner of the Labor Department; Louis Penn, deJongh’s chief of staff; Joe Hazewski, vice president of maintenance and controls at HOVENSA; Richard Difede, president of Gold Coast Yachts; Sloan Schoyer, director of marine and terminal operations for HOVENSA; Virginia Sanchez, vice president for corporate relations at Diageo North America; Teri Helenese, director of human resources for Diageo USVI; Eduardo Corniero, state director of the State Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education; Sarah Mahurt, deputy Education commissioner of curriculum and instruction; and Dee Baecher-Brown, president of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
