Vice Chairwoman D. Tanya King and board secretary/treasurer Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero opposed the proposal.
King said the Rota delegation was not included in any preliminary discussion and the community deserves to know more about the planned merger.
“There so many unanswered concerns,” she added.
Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, who attended BOE’s meeting, said he understands the funding constraint that prompted the merger of the two schools.
But Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota, said the timing was “drastic.”
He said there should be more planning for the merger.
In a letter to Education Commission Rita A. Sablan, Senate President Paul A. Manglona expressed several concerns about the proposed merger.
He said there may be “insufficient time to merge the… schools. I am [also] unaware of any practical planning and organization regarding the merger….”
Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said the Public School System should instead merge the elementary and junior high schools.
PSS said it discussed the proposal on Aug. 11 with Rota Mayor Melchor A. Mendiola and other government officials, including the U.S. congressional delegate’s office representative Harry Masga.
On Aug. 12, PSS added, it discussed the issue with 52 students, teachers, parents, PTA officials and other community members.
Due to lack of funding, PSS said it must adopt cost-saving measures.
The PSS budget submission for fiscal year 2011 was $31,359,577 but the Office of the Governor only approved $28,982,521, which was later reduced by $2,377,056, PSS said.
For fiscal year 2012, BOE transmitted a $36 million budget proposal but governor’s office submitted to the Legislature a $28 million budget only.
Under the planned merger, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior High School will serve as the main campus while Rota High School will be the venue for the JROTC program and gym classes.
PSS said this will maximize personnel capacity from both schools and help balance the budget for personnel while reducing utility cost.
PSS said it is taking a pro-active effort to sustain the quality of education despite the decline in revenue.
“There is an efficiency of education that should always be provided,” Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan said.
