According to the chairwoman of the board’s committee on capital improvement projects, Marylou S. Ada, the current plan is for school years 2004 to 2012.
It calls for the construction of new elementary schools in Marpi and Kagman, a new high school, and gymnasiums for Kagman, Saipan Southern, Tinian, and Rota high schools.
Ada, during Thursday’s special board meeting, said due to the continuous growth of enrollment each year, additional classrooms are needed to minimize overcrowding on campuses.
She said the next general obligation bond that will be floated by the CNMI government should fund these PSS projects, including the repairs and renovations at schools.
“I think we must seriously look at our priorities again because the committee feels that there’s an urgent need to fix our leaking roofs and dilapidated school buildings and facilities on campuses … and build the desired gymnasiums later if necessary,” Ada told the board.
The proposal was made after the board and PSS failed to get a positive response to the administration to reprogram some $8.2 million CIP money for school repairs and renovations.
BOE Chairwoman Lucy Blanco-Maratita said new gymnasiums are not the priority for PSS “right now.”
“There are some schools that truly need more than a gymnasium and that’s why we’re thinking of revisiting the 7-year plan,” she later told Variety.
The seven-year plan projected that PSS will have over 13,000 students by 2012.
PSS had over 11,000 students in the last school year.
