Last year, some classes had 30 to 32 students per teacher, and principal Karen Borja expects MHS to have the same problem when classes open on Sept. 8.
She said the school will have the same number of regular teachers — 49 — for their projected enrollment of 1,200, which was the same figure last year.
Like other secondary schools, Borja said MHS is having a hard time in finding qualified teachers in content areas such as English and math.
She lauded her teaching workforce among whom only six are still not highly qualified but are already waiting for their Praxis test results.
MHS wants to hire five more teachers in English, math and social studies.
Borja said MHS in the last school year received only $70,000 for its operations — not enough to meet the school’s immediate needs.
She said the gymnasium and Building T have leaking roofs and many classrooms have air-conditioning units that need to be repaired.
The school has 60 classrooms.
For fiscal year 2009, Borja said MHS asked for a $7.5 million budget of which $3 million will go to personnel.
She admitted, however, that this amount will never be provided to them, although, she added, it is her hope that the school’s other immediate and priority areas can be addressed in its new budget.
MHS received $900,000 in federal community development block grant to construct a new Building J which will have nine classrooms, including those for the special education program.
Borja also wants to see their 120 air-conditioning units operational in the new school year.
MHS, she added, is planning to use a wind-power generator on campus to save on utility cost.
Its paper toilet drive will continue this year, Borja said.
According to the school principal, MHS will continue to take a “pro-active approach and not dwell on the bad things but focus on the positive things regarding our students’ achievements.”