(a) There is created within the Department of Agriculture an Agriculture in the Classroom Council (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”), to be composed of three (3) members. The three (3) member of the Council shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture or the Commissioner's designee, a representative of the Commissioner of the Department of Education, and a representative of the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of the Virgin Islands.
(b) Members of the Council shall select a Chairman from among their number at the first Council meeting, which Chairman shall serve in said capacity for the remainder of his term. The Council shall meet at least monthly, and more often at the request of the Governor, the call of the Chairman or by written request of at least one of its members. All Council members shall receive all necessary travel expenses incurred for each day or part thereof spent in the performance of their duties.
(c) The powers and duties of the Council shall be as follows:
(1) monitor the quality and condition of the agriculture education in the public school system;
(2) develop recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor, and provide review for agriculture education programs in the Virgin Islands;
(3) provide technical assistance and guidance to the Department of Education in the implementation of the Virgin Islands' agriculture education policy and the development of appropriate curriculum guidelines;
(4) assist the Department of Education in providing training programs for public school teachers in agricultural curriculum and activities;
(5) coordinate the Virgin Islands' agriculture education policy across all programs and institutions;
(6) identify the critical needs for agriculture educators;
(7) establish and maintain an increased awareness of agriculture education and its continued need to all residents of the Virgin Islands;
(8) gain broad public support for agriculture education in the Virgin Islands; and
(9) report annually on its activities to the Senate committee with jurisdiction in the area of agriculture.