By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

SAN Vicente Elementary School will demolish its 20-year-old wooden classrooms to avoid accidents on campus.
The school will need initial funds of from $194,000 to $215,000 for the construction of three new classrooms which will be used for kindergarten students.
In a letter to lawmakers, Parents Teacher Association president David Atalig and acting school principal Jim Rayphand said their kindergarten classes are housed in two wooden room built 20 years ago with federal funds following Typhoon Kim.
“These classrooms were not intended to be permanent structures when they were built, but despite some very noticeable deterioration of the structures, we continue to hold classes in them so as not to jeopardize student learning at the most primary level,” the letter stated.
It added that if the school is to continue offering kindergarten classes, “which play a significant role in the success of students throughout their entire educational careers, we must ensure that we do so in an environmental that is safe and conducive to learning.”
Rayphand said the existing kindergarten classrooms have been the school’s “white elephants in the middle of an otherwise safe and orderly campus.”
“We’re treading a fine line between the importance of providing an early childhood education and the need to do so in an environment that is safe and conducive to learning,” he added.
Atalig said the school needs to get more parents and community members involved in facilitating the demolition and reconstruction of the classrooms.
The SVES-PTA will sponsor a major fundraising activity in May.
Last year, the funds raised by the association were used to procure and repair air-conditioning units for classrooms.
Atalig said the school welcomes all donations including educational tax credit donations.
Anyone wishing to assist may call Rayphand at 237-3791/3, or vice principal Joaquina Salas at 237-3761 for more information.