Panther greenhouse and floral program expands hands-on CTE work; teacher outlines public sales and logistics
December 11, 2025 | Saint Croix School District, School Board, Virgin Islands
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Gretchen Roseboom, the Panther greenhouse and floral teacher, told the Saint Croix Central board on Dec. 10 that the district's new greenhouse will expand hands-on career and technical education opportunities and that the program plans a soft public opening for the school’s 'Panther Floral' enterprise on Valentine’s Day.
Roseboom, who said she began teaching in the district in fall 2014, explained that modern agricultural education follows a "3-part model" of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience and FFA, and described a local shift toward a "tricycle" approach that places more emphasis on classroom instruction to meet state assessment demands while retaining experiential learning.
The greenhouse will allow students to start plants from seed and complete the process through sale and design. Roseboom said about 80 students are expected to participate in the floral class by the end of the year; the program will use a preorder model for perishables (Valentine’s Day) to manage supply and prevent waste. She described community partnerships, including Bubba Links Nursery of Menomonie, to source smaller quantities and noted wholesalers in Plymouth and larger suppliers that require bulk purchases.
Roseboom discussed pricing and ethical concerns about undercutting local florists, noting industry markup norms and that the program's goal is to cover costs and provide learning opportunities rather than maximize profit. She outlined operational constraints such as cooler space, sharing refrigeration with classroom needs, and the need to pre-order to manage perishable inventory.
In a question-and-answer exchange, Roseboom said the majority of seasonal flowers the program orders come from Ecuador, Colombia and the Netherlands and typically reach the district within four to five days. She also described steps students will learn to extend vase life and process flowers for resale.
The presentation closes with the teacher emphasizing student learning and the program's potential to provide business experience and hands-on agricultural education in the district.
The board thanked presenters and encouraged community attendance at upcoming events.
Roseboom, who said she began teaching in the district in fall 2014, explained that modern agricultural education follows a "3-part model" of classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience and FFA, and described a local shift toward a "tricycle" approach that places more emphasis on classroom instruction to meet state assessment demands while retaining experiential learning.
The greenhouse will allow students to start plants from seed and complete the process through sale and design. Roseboom said about 80 students are expected to participate in the floral class by the end of the year; the program will use a preorder model for perishables (Valentine’s Day) to manage supply and prevent waste. She described community partnerships, including Bubba Links Nursery of Menomonie, to source smaller quantities and noted wholesalers in Plymouth and larger suppliers that require bulk purchases.
Roseboom discussed pricing and ethical concerns about undercutting local florists, noting industry markup norms and that the program's goal is to cover costs and provide learning opportunities rather than maximize profit. She outlined operational constraints such as cooler space, sharing refrigeration with classroom needs, and the need to pre-order to manage perishable inventory.
In a question-and-answer exchange, Roseboom said the majority of seasonal flowers the program orders come from Ecuador, Colombia and the Netherlands and typically reach the district within four to five days. She also described steps students will learn to extend vase life and process flowers for resale.
The presentation closes with the teacher emphasizing student learning and the program's potential to provide business experience and hands-on agricultural education in the district.
The board thanked presenters and encouraged community attendance at upcoming events.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
