Ricardo Richards Elementary School is overcrowded. As a direct result of this, my three children who reside in Estate Barren Spot have been transferred outside their school district to Alfredo Andrews Elementary School. I am a single parent raising my children on my own and I do not own a vehicle to handle the responsibility of transportation.

Transportation to and from school has become a battle I fight every day. There is no school bus service provided for them. I have been in contact with the superintendent's office and two senators and still no results.

To the best of my knowledge, the Education Department is responsible for providing this service.

This is an issue that has been going on for years. If we are stressing the importance of education and success, why is it that every year parents are basically fighting for their kids to acquire these basic educational rights that are guaranteed to everyone by the United States Constitution? The Virgin Islands code 503 states as follows: denying or failing to provide a child with shelter, food, clothing, medical care or education is considered child neglect. So is this the message you're sending the community? Child neglect is OK.

The bus company providing service for our schools needs to be revamped in order to accommodate the many changes in our public school system. Many times when money and politics come into play, our kids are left on the sidelines. (1) Who is going resolve this issue? (2) When is the issue going to be resolved? (3) When will my children be allowed to attend school in their district? If we are a government of the people, by the people, for the people, why is it we are still not being heard?

- Harriette Ward lives on St. Croix