No question PSS had its funding challenges and controversies in 2011, but overall it reached substantial milestones and lived its mission of “Students First.”
This reporter spent a significant amount of time touring schools the last two months — usually unannounced — and was thoroughly impressed by the cleanliness and order of the campuses and the hands-on administrators and excited teachers among engaged and smiling students.
Doing more with less
The U.S. should take note of how the CNMI spent 43 percent less to educate each student yet achieved a 93 percent graduation rate; the U.S. average stands at just 75 percent.
Rising standardized test scores for two-years running in six grade levels provided hard data to support why the CNMI has graduated its young people so successfully and allowed the community to gauge the system’s continuing progress.
In an effort to reach the seven percent who are at risk of not graduating, PSS launched an Alternative Education Program based at Marianas High School to ensure suspended students continue to receive counseling and tutoring during their time of greatest vulnerability and likelihood to give up on education all together.
“Every student deserves a place to learn even when they’re struggling,” stated Commissioner of Education Rita A. Sablan on the day of the center’s opening.
Part of educating the gifted and challenged alike was providing positive examples of setting and reaching goals no matter how difficult.
PSS led by example in attaining the federally mandated requirement of Praxis certification of all administrators, teachers and counselors in July.
Not only has PSS reached the professional standard certification for educators but also the system focused on the physical environments by modernizing, rehabilitating and repairing, to some degree, all 30 schools — including 10 Head Start centers — on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Additionally, in March they launched the largest green energy program in the Pacific at Saipan Southern high school.
Ten public schools are in line to receive both solar and wind turbines to drive down energy bills and inspire faculty and students to think smarter and differently.
As Board of Education Chairwoman Marylou S. Ada commented, “It is an indication that what we have is a dynamic Public School System.”
At least the CNMI and its 11,011 students can be thankful for one highly functional government institution in 2011 and the hope that other public institutions might follow the example in the New Year.
