, 1962-02-07
THE ST. o AVIS

not as important. I emphasized, however, that l would not do away
with the position because it il needed, but I certainly would not pay
the position the same salary as I would the high school principalship
and the supervisory position because they are not comparable.
Speaking about salary, 1 never told Mrs. Caroline to ~put in for
a reduction" as the NEWS CURRENT had me saying. What brought
this up was her insistence that place her on a regular classified salary
range. She told me she was tired of being placed in a special category
and would rather be placed on a regular classified range 50 that when
there is a general increase she would be entitled to the same. She was
being paid at a higher salary than any supervisor of statistics in the
government l tod hf nt II WouaO e 70 her olsaoVantage' salay,
wise, to be placed in a regular classified schedule for statistician and
that for her own good, it would be best to remain where she was and
leave things alone as they were. When she kept insisting that she
should be placed within a range with other statistiians regardless
Of the reduction in salary, Itod her to put her request in writing to
protect myself. 1 didn't want to take the matter into my hands with.
out a written request from her. Certainly, l had no intention of reduc-
ing her salary and I never asked here to put in for a reduction" as
the NEWS CURRENT had it. Furthermore, never said she was
<overpaid." The fact Ct the matter is that after a review of the salaries
tf the office staff, l am prepared to recommend the salary of Educa-
tional Stahstcian at Pay Range 10, $5,720 to $4,000 per annum. (She
was making $5,780--the maximum within this Range Is IS higher,
The article made reference to statement that I "had hired some.
one in ST Thomas to make statistical reports" the trurn is had no.
hired anyone in St Thomas or any place to do any statistical work
and had no plans to hire anyone With Mrs. Gardines resignation,
However, | am forced TO look for someone to replace her.
The quotation about "having been thrown out of the high school
for ineffciency" was uttered by Mrs. Caroline herself, although not in
mat exact language. She told me how she moved up through the ranks
from a teacher in 1884 to Assistant Superintendent in 1949 When it
came to the transfer from Chrisiansted High School, she herself told
me that some people in and out of the Department of Education had
the impression that she was being transferred out of the high school
because of ineffciency. She said this came about because the Com.
missioner, Dr. Preston, did not make any public announcement to the
contrary, although DR.. Prestonn told her wen done" after graduation
1t was after she told me this that 1 told her that | had heard the
same tn1ng rOm several Other sources N TOLD ner, tO InaC 4
was glad she recognized how the impression was created. She said
~ was only "hearsay" and I agreed with her. In response tc her ques-
ton, I told her that the "hearsay' had not and certainly would not
prejudice her case. This was the way the conversation went All
did was agreed to what she said. l did not tell her that she was
thrown out of the high school for ineffciencyo, as the NEW
CURRENT had quoted me. / only echoed what she herself said. AS
] recall the term thrown out" was never used in the conversation
The NEWS CURRENT wrote about strained relations" start
ing back in October. 1 never considered my relationship with Mrs
Caroline as strained" On the contrary | thought it was fine. If il
was strained Mrs. Galdine alone must have felt it. Certainly no
The question of her qualifications for higher positions was never
discussed in the manner in which it was reported in the NEWS CUR
RENT. | told her, with respect to the Director of Secondary aC
Vocational Education, that if were to make any promotion to the
position, she would rank behind Mrs. Kean of Charlotte Amanc
Mr.. Henderson of Claude 0. Markoe and other high school admins
trahve personnel by virtue of the fact that they occupy positions of
responsibility in secondary education. Moreover, 1 said I didn't know
you had any background in vocational education. She sad she didn't
never said she didn't qualify, 1 merely said she would rank
tClnd the others. We smoke about the Director of Librar- Services
but she herself admitted she was not qualified for this position. | told
her tina / had two Virgin Islander candidates for the Deputy Corn
missioner of Business Affairs. With respect to the Curriculum ard
Instruction Director, 1 told her again she would rank behind Mrs
Dorsch, Miss Joseph and Miss Gabriel who occupy positions and are